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1
DEC
2024
Squirrels and Hedgehogs with Dundee Rangers at the Botanic Gardens
On the 1st of December I took the train to Dundee to join a ranger called Colin in the Botanic Gardens, where we delivered a workshop on squirrels and hedgehogs. Sadly, only two of the 8 booked participants turned up, but they were friendly and enthusiastic, and went for a wander with Colin around the gardens whilst I arranged the art materials ready for some creativity.
They returned an hour later, and together the 4 of us discussed the animals and evidence of animals they had seen, different conservation efforts across Scotland, and the state of funding for both conservation and the arts.
After having some lunch, we settled down to learn some drawing techniques.
First, we sketched hedgehogs in pencil, building up our drawings of animals using shapes, shading, and using a variety of marks to communicate different textures. We progressed to fine line pen, considering how different nib sizes, different pressures, and different movements can be used to develop a "repertoire" of marks.
Colin and the two participants drew brilliant hedgehogs, and we discussed different experiences of art education, and the importance of a space like the Botanic Gardens.
Once satisfied with our hedgehogs, we applied the techniques we had just learnt to drawing a squirrel in a similar way.
We then explored water based inks, using watercolour paper and paint brushes to experiment with the "wet-on-dry" and "wet-on-wet" techniques. We discussed how shapes and shadows can be used to communicate as much as edges do, and how we can have fun with colour and tone. The participants had a lot of fun painting squirrels and hedgehogs using this material until the end of the workshop.
"Colin was a great guide around the gardens & we really enjoyed his help on tree identification & his advice on using a bird song app.
Felicity is an excellent teacher. As an Art college graduate I can honestly say she was loads better in one afternoon than anyone I encountered in 3 years. Please pass that on!
I am delighted with my hedgehog & squirrel illustrations & she might even have helped me overcome a lifetime of avoidance of drawing."
- Elizabeth (Attendee)
29
DEC
2024
WayMarkers by ArtMovesFife: Connecting people, place and planet
On Friday 29 November opened ArtMovesFife’year-end reflection/celebration at the St Andrews Botanic Garden featuring work by Fife-based artists from the 2024 ArtMovesFife programme. Running for three days, the programme included a mini exhibition, with artist talks, and workshops/showcases.
Gillian McFarland, one of our Collective Artists founded ArtMoves Fife along with artist Kate Downie, an initiative that started in 2023 and has gone from strength to strength over the last year.
ArtMovesFife is a collaborative artwork centred around collective journeys on foot, by bicycle, by bus, boat or train exploring all corners of Fife (not just the scenic bits). These local journeys have become the test bed for discussion, ideas and art-making for positive environmental change through creative engagement.
It places local artists at the centre of their communities as drivers for environmental improvement.
The recent moves have been “A to B, Station to Station” Aberlour to Burntisland
where the group followed the coastal path and railway line, and incorporated art-making, walking, and meeting local artists all with the goal of “attentiveness and noticing”: birds, passing ships, seals, trains, geology and everything else.
“A to B, Station to Station” was quickly followed by “We Are Sixty-Four!” St Andrews to Glenrothes (and back). Where participants were ask to join Gillian and Kate for a “hop on, hop off experience on the wiggliest, rattliest bus route in Fife—namely, the epic Moffat & Williamson No. 64” bus that plies between St Andrews and Glenrothes, taking in 14 towns and villages along the way. With stops in Strathkinness, Letham and Falkland for art-making, not to mention ArtMove actions on the bus itself!
We’re thrilled to be partners with ArtMovesFife and are incredibly proud of all the hard work Gillian and Kate have put in to making it a reality. We’re also delighted that the communities are linking and growing together as ArtMovesFifers join up in the Collective and Collective artists join in with the ArtMoves Initiatives.
Tansy Lee Moir, one of our Collective artists has recently been attending the journeys and has had work on display with the WayMarkers exhibition at the The Boilerhouse, St Andrews Botanic Garden, where her series of experimental charcoal prints ‘A to B, a coastal journey’ were on display.
We like ArtMovesFife have a keen interest in connecting people, place and planet, and look forward to continuing to explore our partnership… an ArtMoves event for Collective members perhaps… you’ll have to wait and see next year!
"I particularly enjoyed sitting quietly and drawing sounds, so have incorporated these quirky little marks into the images, along with other abstract charcoalyness suggesting the sounds and memories of the day.”
“I used the charcoal transfer technique I’ve been developing to layer, change and extend my markmaking for these works and the four drawings in sequence form a journey remembered in charcoal. I’m delighted they are joining the other artists’ work for the event and a huge thanks to Kate Downie and Gillian McFarland for their inspirational artistic leadership."
- Tansy Lee Moir
15
NOV
2024
"Understanding Arts Funding" - first of our professional practice webinar series
The Art and Nature Collective hosted its inaugural Professional Practice Webinar, marking the start of an exciting series aimed at addressing the key challenges artists face today. Designed to empower creative professionals, these webinars will focus on practical advice and actionable solutions for navigating the complexities of the art world.
For this first session, we were delighted to welcome Kathleen Glancy, Development Manager at The Fruitmarket Gallery, to share her expertise. With a wealth of experience as a Grants Manager and a strong background in arts and creative industries, Kathleen brought invaluable insights into fundraising, proposal writing, and navigating the often-complicated world of arts funding. Her session provided attendees with strategies for crafting compelling funding applications and tips for building sustainable careers in the arts.
The turnout and engagement were a testament to the demand for this type of support within the artist community. This webinar is just the beginning of a series aimed at tackling the hurdles that many creatives face, from funding and marketing to networking and exhibition opportunities.
Stay tuned for upcoming webinars as we continue to empower and inspire artists to thrive in their practices!
"That was so interesting, I'm excited for the next ones and to join the Collective!"
- Non-member
"Essential information that artists need to know and should ahve been taught about! Thank you so much for sharing this knoweldge. It's really appreciated. Thank you."
- Non-member
"Invaluable, thank you so much Kathleen"
- Collective Artist
"I feel ready to go back to my application now, thank you so much Inês and Kathleen"
- Collective Artist
"Thanks so much for organising this! I found the webinar incredibly useful and interesting. I would definitely be interested in learning more about the application process itself and putting together budgets etc!"
- Wenna King (Collective Artist)
"Brilliant Webinar. Thanks to you both"
- Rodney Mountain (Director of the Art and Nature Collective)
"More please!"
- Collective Artist
7
OCT
2024
October Mushroom Walk
On the 6th October we held a Guided Mushroom Walk at Dundee Botanic Garden with Fungi Expert David Mitchell
Despite the bad weather and a year of fewer mushrooms due to changing weather patterns, David led a fascinating guided walk around the stunning Dundee Botanic Garden!
David took us on a journey through the world of fungi, revealing the hidden wonders and ecological importance of these incredible organisms. As an added bonus, he brought in mock ups of pages for his upcoming book which he was also promoting the launch of.
We look forward to putting on another event for the launch of his exciting new book on fungi, inclusive of over 400 original paintings.
28
MAY
2024
Migrating Songbirds
🌿 Arrivals and Departures with RSPB Wild Dundee
On Sunday, we had the pleasure of hosting some members of the ScrapAntics CIC Family Club at the University of Dundee Botanic Gardens. It was a day filled with discovery as we delved into the sounds and songs of Spring.
With binoculars in hand, we marvelled at the sight of a beautiful Blackcap serenading from a branch above, shortly before hearing the unmistakable call of a Chiffchaff - but that wasn't all! We saw and heard Magpies, Great Tit, Robins, Siskins, a Chaffinch, Wood pigeons...we even saw evidence of a Sparrowhawk's hunt!
As part of our ongoing Arrivals and Departures project, we engaged in meaningful conversations about the reasons behind our wildlife's migrations, drawing parallels to our own journeys.
By partnering with the Art and Nature Collective, we were honoured to have Felicity Inkpen guide each participant in crafting a multi-media masterpiece. From sketching birds with simple shapes to illustrating migration paths with water and ink, and using collage techniques to capture the essence of birdsong, creativity truly flourished!
At RSPB Wild Dundee, we believe that collaboration lies at the core of every successful endeavour. A heartfelt thank you to Inês-Hermione Mulford for her invaluable support, Felicity for her inspiring facilitation, Riverside Nature Park for sharing Ian Ford's wealth of knowledge, and ScrapAntics Family Club for helping reach our participants.
"Thank you Hope & Felicity - excellent facilitation & a very enjoyable morning bringing together nature & art - great for families to spend time together. Magic!"
- Hope Busak, RSPB Scotland
On Sunday the 28th of April, I packed up a car with art supplies and drove over to Dundee to join RSPB representative Hope Busak and members of the ScrapAntics Family Club at the University of Dundee Botanic Gardens. Hope led us around the gardens where we looked and listened for signs of migratory birds arriving in Dundee: black caps, chiffchaffs and warblers. Back in the activities room, we all sat down with a cup of tea and a biscuit to discuss what we had seen, heard, and learnt, and turn it into art.
The participants were first guided through an observational drawing exercise: learning to look at birds with an artist's eye, breaking the image down into constituent geometric shapes, and then building up detail through shading and different types of mark-making. Their beautiful bird drawings were put to one side to do an all-together messier creative activity - exploring migration through the movement of water-based inks across paper. The participants were invited to draw out a map in clear water, then add the inks to the water marks, and see how the ink travelled. Finally we considered the birdsong we had heard, and how this could be represented in abstract shapes by using collage - the ripping of the paper providing a sound to add to the visual experience.
The ink-map, the paper-birdsong, and the drawing of the bird were then combined into one mixed media art piece. The participants showed their artistic flare as they combined the different elements in diverse and beautiful ways, each creating an artwork that was truly unique to them. There was lots of enthusiasm for these different ways of making art as the participants flourished in their own creativity.
Thank you so much to Hope for leading the workshop, and to Ines and the Art and Nature collective for bringing me to this botanic garden and this wonderful group of people.
- Felicity Inkpen, Collective Artist
“Thank you very much for these types of activities. The best thing is I never know we can do lots of things with just art and birds.” - Participant, Age 6
“the session was marvellous. Thank you so much Hope and Felicity. We were delighted to hear the songs of the birds, at the same time it was extremely wonderful Hope when hope was imitating those songs. You both made the session super awesome!” - Participant
“Thank you very much Hope and Felicity a very enjoyable facilitation and a very enjoyable morning bringing together nature and art. Great for families to spend time together – magic!” - Participant
"I loved Ian's talk. So informative, and then heading to riverside, was amazing seeing the Skylarks up close and in their natural environment. Also as a good punctuation for the day, the split of where we were helped to structure the day well." - Participant
"I enjoyed having people from all portions of society, and working together helped to make bonds and conversation/connection." - Participant
23
MAR
2024
Celebrating Skylarks
It was an immense pleasure to work with skylark expert, Ian Ford, to present a science-art
workshop about skylarks. The combination of seeing skylarks in the morning at the Riverside
Nature Park and using this experience to make a text and image collage was great fun! The magic of seeing skylarks was a wonderful start for an afternoon of thinking, writing and creating artwork about skylarks. The afternoon kicked off with my spoken word performance and short film to provide inspiration and get participants in the mood. Deconstructing the poems of George Meredith and Percy Shelley and using them in word games helped participants their own ideas and create a collage expressing what skylarks meant to them.
I was amazed by the diverse personal and individual responses; for example one participant
focussed on nesting and family, another the swooping dancing flight of the skylark and another developed an artwork which was a memorial of words and image for a friend who had died. One young participant created an image and words about climate change - uppermost in her mind. Hers was a unique and exceptional response. - she had cut the flying skylark in half. It was such a strong and moving image reflecting the damage to nature and biodiversity from climate change.
The workshop was designed to be inclusive with no prior skills required, with lots of discussion throughout providing an productive and creative environment. I hope that there are many more science art events!
- Linda Kosciewicz, Collective Artist
"I liked the word play a lot, and enjoyed Linda's performance. Lovely to hear/see how other creatives work, and form my point of view, interesting to experience the running of the workshop." - Participant
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