Exhibitions

Redcastle Art Group is delighted to return to The Stables to present a 5th annual exhibition of paintings and drawings. These 14 experienced highland artists meet every month to work together on the Black Isle with advice from well-known painter Jonathan Shearer. Most of them work "en plein air" as often as possible, and their exciting work fills The Stables Gallery with a wide diversity of subjects, media and styles. The show also includes mounted pieces, cards, sketchbooks to peruse and artists to talk to! All are welcome to join the artists on the opening day, Saturday 22nd June, when drinks and home baking will be served in the afternoon. Portrait artist William Mather will be on hand during the week to invite you to sit for a lively charcoal sketch to take home. (See website www.spanglefish.com/redcastleartgroup for details of timing). The members of Redcastle Art Group are: Helen ALLAN, Frances BAXTER, Clare BLOIS, Morven BOARDMAN, Margaret COWIE, Elizabeth JOSS, Ruth MACGREGOR, Avril MARR, William MATHER, Margaret McKAY, Gay McKEOWN, Hilma RASK, Katherine SUTHERLAND and Jane WESTON. NB. The exhibition will close at 4.00pm on the final day, Sunday 30th June. FREE entry

Black Isle Collective: The Summer Show an t-Eilean Dubh Opening: 2.00 - 4.00pm on Saturday 13th July Runs daily from 11.00am - 4.00pm, 14th - 21st July A group of established and emerging artists from the Black Isle (and a step or two beyond!) come together to share their passion for making art.  An exhibition of paintings, sculpture, printmaking, soundworks, textiles - and much else besides. Check out the poster to the right for a list of all talks and events taking place throughout the week - all free, just turn up!    @blackislecollective on Facebook for full list of times & events  Artists include: Anita Murray Jan Baxandall Rachel Bevan Baker Kirstie Cohen James McBride Kathleen Madigan Rosie Newman Pamela Tait Izzy Thomson Menno Verburg FREE entry.   

The Cromarty Group, which began in 1976, brings together a variety of talented local artists and craftspeople for their popular, annual exhibition that includes an array of contemporary arts and crafts to suit everyone's tastes: paintings, wood sculptures, ceramics, prints, pottery and more! NB. The exhibition will close earlier at 4.00pm on the final day, Sunday 17th August. FREE entry.

This event will sadly no longer happen in 2020. Catch it in the summer of 2021. A group of established and emerging artists from the Black Isle (and a step or two beyond!) come together for a second time to share their passion for making art. An exhibition of paintings, sculpture, printmaking and installation. The collective’s second exhibition will feature new work from Jan Baxandall, Rachel Bevan Baker, Kirstie Cohen, Kathleen Madigan, James McBride, Anita Murray, Rosie Newman, Pamela Tait, Alice Taylor, Izzy Thomson and Menno Verburg. With a range of media used and a thought-provoking crossover of themes within the collective, this promises to be an exhibition that will take you on a journey and ignite your curiosity.   “A really exciting first show - lots of variety” “Stunning work by all the artists and a beautifully balanced exhibition. Impressive” “Great to see so many styles and media” “What a wonderful collection of work” Please visit our facebook page to find out more: Black Isle Collective FREE entry Please note opening times: Saturday 11th July:  2.00 - 4.00pm Then open daily from 12 - 19 July: 10.00am - 4.00pm

This event will sadly no longer happen in 2020. Catch it in the summer of 2021. Formed in 1976, the Cromarty Group have been exhibiting each year ever since. Though members have come and gone, the quality of the work remains. Every year the group invites 2 to 3 guest artists to join them, giving each exhibition a little different focus, and keeping the Group on their toes.  There is something for everyone including, ceramics, sculpture, painting, prints, pottery and more.   Come and join us for one of the most popular local events of the year!  Artists this year include, Beral Anderson, Leon Patchett, Alex Dunn, Ian Barr, Jenny Gunn, Simon Gunn and Patricia Hay plus guests.   Check out our Facebook Page!  FREE entry  

We regret that this event has now been cancelled for 2021. We hope to bring Danny's wonderful work to you next year. Meanwhile, you can follow him on social media while his new website is in construction. Young and talented Cromarty-based artist presents his first solo exhibition at The Stables. Using mixed media, Danny Martin will be showcasing the beauty of Scotland in oil, acrylics and graphite in the shape of the landscapes and wildlife that our beautiful country has to offer. Danny has an eclectic mix of styles, so there is sure to be something for everyone. FREE entry    

An exhibition of paintings, sculpture, printmaking and installation.  This group of established and emerging artists from the Black Isle (and a step or two beyond!) come together once again to share their passion for making art. The collective’s second exhibition will feature new work from Jan Baxandall, Rachel Bevan Baker, Kirstie Cohen, Kathleen Madigan, James McBride, Anita Murray, Rosie Newman, Pamela Tait, Alice Taylor, Izzy Thomson and Menno Verburg. With a range of mediums used and a thought-provoking crossover of themes within the collective, this promises to be an exhibition that will take you on a journey and ignite your curiosity. “A really exciting first show - lots of variety” “Stunning work by all the artists and a beautifully balanced exhibition. Impressive” “Great to see so many styles and media” “What a wonderful collection of work”                                                                     FREE Entry 'Waiting for the Show' Opening times:  Saturday 10th July: 14.00 - 16.00 Sunday 11th - Sunday 18th: 11.00 - 16.00 Please visit the facebook page to find out more: Black Isle Collective

The Cromarty Group return with their new exhibition in a new June time slot. Local artists join together to present an eclectic collection of visual art that reflects their diversity of approach and personalities.  Simon Gunn Alex Dunn Ian Barr Beral Anderson Zooulla Spirou Leon Patchett ...and guest artist Helena Barnes complete the roll call for 2022 for this years exhibition.. Join us for the Opening Event on Friday 17th June, 7.30 - 9.00pm  FREE entry

This July will see The Black Isle Collective gathering for their 3rd Summer Exhibition at the Cromarty Stables, with their exhibition opening on the evening of 15th July and running through to the 24th July, opening each day from 11am to 4pm. The Black Isle Collective are a group of eleven artists all working in a range of mediums, from painting and printmaking to installation, sound, poetry and sculpture. Their approach to exhibiting together as a collective provides an opportunity to hang out with each other, to try out ideas, to focus on creating work which will generate a dialogue between the audience and the artist and to exhibit in a beautiful place where they all live. There will be an opening reception held on the 15th July, please check the Facebook page for further information and also for any updates on events happening during the exhibition duration https://www.facebook.com/blackislecollective Free entry Opening times:  Friday 15th July: preview event - times tbc Sunday 16th - Sunday 24th: 11.00 - 16.00     

An exhibition of local artsits Jane Angel, Simon Jackson, Michele Gunn and the late Gordon Gunn.  OPENING NIGHT PREVIEW - TUESDAY 7 MARCH 6 - 8PM, please join us for a glass of wine. Jane Angel lived and worked in Edinburgh for many years before coming to the Black Isle just over two years ago. She is inspired by the landscape here to create abstract a paintings using acrylics, mixed media and collage. Simon Jackson trained at St Martin’s school of Art in London where he worked in Illustration and animation. After moving to Edinburgh In 2006 and worked in watercolour on landscapes, he now lives in Fortrose and makes stencils of birds and landscapes. Michele Gunn lives and work in Edinburgh, where she studied Art History at the University of Edinburgh (1970). She trained as an Art Therapist at St Albans(Hertfordshire) 1982-3 where the art-based approach to training re-ignited a long-dormant wish to paint. Retired from work in community mental health, Michele focusses on landscape which she sees as the environment on which we are always making our marks. Even a still, empty field shows the presence and action of generations of people. The late Gordon Gunn was a noted 20th century watercolour painter. He was educated at Glasgow School of Art and was the subject of a book by Neil Rind “A Scottish painter and his world .” published in 1972. For part of his life Gordon lived in Culdthel, Inverness. His paintings are mainly landscapes, many of them places in Scotland. A favourite was Morar , a community on the west coast. Gordon attached most importance to his ‘Cosmic Paintings’ some of which are included in the exhibition.

REDCASTLE ART GROUP EXHIBITION 2023 RAG comes back to Cromarty with a new exhibition celebrating highland painting and more. Redcastle Art Group (RAG) comprises 15 experienced highland artists who for many years have met on the Black Isle once a month to paint together.  Expect to meet the artists and see a vibrant and eclectic exhibition encompassing diverse media and subject matter for all tastes (and pockets). Please note the exhibition and concert are up a flight of stairs and unfortunately there is no lift.  CONCERT: ROBIN VERSTEEG & CHRISTOPHER JOSEY In conjunction with the show, there will be an opening-night concert in the gallery highlighting the links between art and music.  Robin Versteeg (piano) and Christopher Josey (tenor) present a recital with an art and landscape theme. In addition to Fauré’s popular “Five Venice Songs” and music by Barber and Respighi,  they will perform “Le Travail du Peintre” by Francis Poulenc, an interesting song cycle featuring Paul Éluard’s surrealist poems on seven artists including Picasso, Braque, Miro and Chagall. Saturday 13th May, 7.30 pm, Cromarty Stables. Interval refreshments. Tickets £10 (under 16s free) – contact [email protected] to book.  Remaining tickets at the door. Robin Versteeg is based in Strathspey and is well known as a pianist, conductor and teacher throughout the highlands. He returns to Cromarty Stables with Christopher Josey, internationally renowned opera and concert tenor. Originally from Australia, Christopher lives in Aviemore and is also a busy vocal tutor.  

The Cromarty Group of artists are back at The Stables. A date to save, opening night is Friday 28th at 7.30pm. Check back for more details coming soon. 

Nigg / \ Cromarty / \ Nigg Taylor – Westacott The town of Cromarty and the Port of Nigg face one another, separated by a deep and fast-flowing stretch of water – the Cromarty Firth. This exhibition shows how two artists have captured the essence of each place; the natural heritage and picturesque trees of the Cromarty landscape are juxtaposed against the vast structures of the contemporary energy industry. The exhibition explores a creative partnership. Sue Jane Taylor and Ian Westacott have lived together and worked side by side for many years but each focuses on a very different aspect of the world they live in. Sue Jane Taylor’s selected sketches and working drawings are based on her residency at the Port of Nigg where she observed and drew onsite the daily industrial workings of the port: the arrival of deep sea vessels and massive subsea jackets and their components for offshore wind farms in UK waters. Like Sue Jane, Ian Westacott begins his work on location, etching on to copper plates regardless of wind and rain. In contrast to Sue Jane, his work remains firmly focused on the majestic trees of the natural environment. But, in this exhibition, the glimpses of Nigg’s industry in the background of Ian’s delicately etched work remind the observer of the links between these two worlds. The exhibition is jointly sponsored by the Cromarty Arts Trust, Nigg Energy Park and Global Energy Group. Free entry. Timed to coincide with the exhibition, there will be a free showing of the Rigs of Nigg, a film by Don Coutts in the Victoria Hall, followed by tea, coffee and discsussion with some of the local stars of the film. Saturday 19 August, 5.30 - 7.30pm.  Reserve your tickets here.

Another chance to see the great film Rigs of Nigg on the big screen. A free film showing followed by a discussion with Don Coutts and Lindy Cameron plus stars of the film! Black Isle artist Sue Jane Taylor spent two years as Artist in Residence at Nigg yard.  The results of her work, alongside Ian Westacott's beautful Cromarty tree etchings,  can be seen at the Nigg/\Cromarty/\Nigg exhibition at the Stables. The exhibition is free and open every day from 19 - 27 August, 11am - 5pm. As part of this major exhibition we are showing the Rigs of Nigg in the Victoria Hall. The film will be followed by an informal Q&A discussion hosted by Don Coutts. Sue Jane and others who feature in the film will be there too.   Free but booking recommended.  Through Eventbright here.  Or call 01381 600354 or email [email protected] or on door.

Hungarian born artist and rope maker Hanna Varga will be hosting an exhibition of her work made in Cromarty during her six week residency here. Please join us for a preview evening from 5 - 7pm on Friday 15 December and then all day Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 from 10am - 4pm.

Exhibition by the talented Redcastle Art Group.

Rising Up from the Rubbish Tip An amazing exhibition of Mark Stevens’ Extraordinary Machines Mark has been waging his very own ‘war on waste’ for many years, long before it became fashionable!  Only Mark does this in his own extraordinary way. He creates whimsical, imaginary, fantastic, non-functional machines out of the everyday objects that people throw away and often end up in the rubbish tip or discarded by the side of the road. Objects include old vacuum cleaners, car wipers, headphones, hair brushes, and even Kinder Egg cases. The result is a fantastic collection of over thirty large-scale models that have taken almost three decades to create. Models that are all very different are incredibly detailed and stunning, each in its own way. The exhibition will be open to viewing at the Old Brewery in Cromarty over the Bank Holiday weekend between 10 am and 4 pm, starting on Friday, August 2nd. All are welcome, so don’t miss this very special opportunity to see these incredible creations and to meet and ask Mark all about them. In addition, on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30pm, Mark will be hosting special workshops explaining and showing in detail how he made these incredible creations and demonstrating many of the techniques he employs to give them their unique look. This will include information on how he initially comes up with a design idea, followed by how he selects the various items he’ll use for a particular model. Other aspects covered will include body moulding and contouring, texturing and painting. Mark will also talk in more detail about the many tools and techniques he uses to construct the models. If you want to join onto the workshop (suitable fopr ages 11 - 111) , the price is £10, call 01381 600354 or email [email protected] to book. 

David Vaughan - the furniture designs of John Vaughan Opening Night - Friday 9 August 6 - 8pm Saturday and Sunday 10am - 4pm An exhibition curated by his family, with original furniture designed and made by John and his son David. 

THE CROMARTY GROUP - 48th ANNUAL EXHIBITION Painting : Ceramics : Sculpture : Jewellery : Photography Work by : Alex Dunn : Beral Anderson : Debbie Blakely : Elisa de Waal : Ian Barr : Jill Meredith : Justine Ritchie : Kelda Young : Kerstin Gren : Leon Patchett : Lexie Macleod : Rosanne Wiseman : Simon Gunn : Zooulla Spirou