The Maclaurin Art Gallery News

Paisley Art Institute at The Maclaurin Gallery

The Maclaurin Gallery • May 19, 2023

134th Annual Open Exhibition - 20th May to 25th June 2023

Over four hundred works featuring many well known Scottish artists will be on show at the Maclaurin Gallery in Ayr when the Paisley Art Institute’s 134th Annual exhibition opens on Saturday May 20th. This is the first time the PAI, as it is known, will exhibit outside its home town, the change of venue bought about by a plan from their local council to use the art gallery for other purposes. The Maclaurin Gallery is delighted to welcome such a well respected and well loved institution.

Trios by Liz Knox

John Walker, Chair of the Maclaurin Trust, said of the exhibition.

“Our late colleague and First Patron, Helen M Turner was a keen supporter of PAI and determined to bring the annual show to Ayr when the institute lost its Paisley home.

She introduced us to the team who have produced what is going to be an altogether vibrant exhibition.”


Joe Harlan President of the Paisley Art Institute

“As Paisley’s Art Galleries have been ‘reimagined', we have come to Ayr to the Maclaurin Gallery for this, our 134th annual exhibition. We have enjoyed working with the Maclaurin team and thank them for their efficiency. A healthy submission of work in wide-ranging in styles will make a fine display.

We have some 20 prizes to reward excellence, with some award sponsors choosing their own prize and others being chosen by our invited judges, including hotel owner, artist and collector Bill Costley, Mike Leonard, convenor at Glasgow Art Club, and John Walker, Chair of the Maclaurin Trust.”


The opening on Saturday 20th May will be addressed by Peter McAvoy OBE, a leading amateur golfer and writer.


The exhibition continues until Sunday 25th June.

Fading Light, Seggan by Sandy Murphy

The Collaboration Process - John Byrne

By The Maclaurin Gallery • August 20, 2025
We are delighted with the feedback from visitors to our current exhibitions and in particular the ‘Celebrating John Byrne’. All down to our special collaboration with The Glasgow Print Studio, The Royal Scottish Academy, The Fine Art Society, Edinburgh and of course, John’s daughter Celie Byrne. All resulting in this unique collection of Byrne’s work, some of which is being displayed in public for the first time. Whilst the exhibition has been running, we have been able to host 2 sessions of print demonstrations relating to Byrne’s work, thanks to Master Printer Ian McNicol, revealing the collaborative process between artist and printer. The audiences were given a fascinating insight into life in the Glasgow Print Studio when Byrne was around. Ian himself, creating many of Byrne’s prints, some of which form part of the exhibition. With etching plates from the Byrne archive, Ian talked us through the preparation and went on to print off a few of the familiar images on an etching press. These hour long sessions were well attended and enjoyed by all. Here are some photos from the sessions. The Byrne exhibition continues until 31 August, there’s still time if you haven’t been in yet!

Improvements to the Courtyard

By The Maclaurin Gallery • July 7, 2025
Improvements to the Courtyard Things are happening in the courtyard thanks to some amazing volunteers who have given up their time to help Friends of the Maclaurin maintain the planting area in the courtyard. Over the last few years the Friends have renewed the seating outside the gallery, providing benches and picnic tables for visitors to sit out in the sunny weather. This year we lost our plant supplier and so a group of green fingered volunteers kindly stepped up and planted a new herbaceous border in our big trough on Thursday! They’re a hardy bunch too, with all the work done in the rain! It's an amazing job and huge thanks to the newly formed Courtyard team, Pattie Kewney, Geoff Caldwell and Kayte Mapes. When we spoke with Pattie on Thursday she summed up the day’s efforts, explaining, “We’re soaked to the skin but pleased with the result! There is always a good feeling about volunteering and contributing what we can for the enjoyment of the community.” Yes indeed, everyone benefits from this and we all appreciate the team’s sterling effort. A few photos, before and after, and, in case you wondered how many potted plants you can fit into a compact car...

Cultural Icon - John Byrne

By The Maclaurin Gallery • July 4, 2025
More excitement at the weekend, along with some good weather, when we launched the CELEBRATING JOHN BYRNE exhibition on Saturday. We were delighted to welcome John Byrne’s daughter Celie, to open the show.