Drawing on his roots at art show
Focus on amphibians
World- acclaimed artist Gregor Louden returned to his roots to take part in a public art exhibition at The Centre, Livingston.
Gregor was at the mall to showcase 11 three-dimensional, three feet high, individually designed frog sculptures.
The former James Young High School student, who left to study Illustration and Animation at Manchester University in 1999, has since travelled the world exhibiting his work in many major cities including Philadelphia and Berlin, coming a long way from the murals he started out designing at Livingston Skateboard Park when he was in his teens.
However, these have inspired his work to this day.
Gregor’s work also includes many commissions by many largescale brands including the Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Innes & Gunn and Timex, which involved designing a mural for the New York and London marathons.
The Frog Trail Exhibition, which is the first event of its kind in the shopping centre, will feature 11, 3D frog sculptures individually designed by local community groups, a school and St John’s Hospital children’s ward.
Gregor’s frog focuses on the ‘ Journey of Livingston’ taking people through various landmarks and sites of interest they might not know about in the area. Many of these where he spent a lot of time growing up and has very fond memories of, including the Murieston Trail, the viaduct, Howden House, the Livingston Inn and old churchyard.
Gregor said: “Being asked to take part in this exhibition is a great honour for me as it has taken me back to my roots to places where I had a great time growing up.
“I decided to use this as an opportunity to highlight some of those amazing places, including the Murieston Trail which I still like to walk with the dog every time I’m home – for me that is just one of the places at home where I really do feel that it takes me away into another world.”
Ashley Bisland, Deputy Centre Director at The Centre, added: “We are delighted to have such a wellknown artist who was born and bred in Livingston take part in our Frog Trail exhibition, which really is a great accolade for us.
“The way he has captured so many incredible places in and around Livingston is wonderful to see which I am sure visitors to the mall over the next eight weeks will admire as much as we do.”
Other artists taking part in the exhibition, which will run until mid- August, includes Ciara Veronica Dunne, Danielle Callaghan and Elph.