The Maclaurin Art Gallery News
South Ayrshire Secondary Schools Art Awards
The Maclaurin Gallery • December 9, 2019
The bi-annual Senior Schools Art awards are currently open at the Maclaurin Art Gallery and the exhibition continues until mid January.
Two prizes were being competed for: the principal one, The Maclaurin Award, given to the pupil who, in the opinion of the judges, has produced work of outstanding creativity and artistry.
The winner of the Maclaurin Award this year is Mhairi Smeeton from Kyle Academy. No stranger to open competition Mhairi won the Kilgour Award two years ago.
The other major award, The Kilgour Award, named in memory of Jack Kilgour who was a major influence at the gallery in its early days and one of the instigators of the Friends of the Maclaurin organisation.
This year the award went to Katie Bryan from Carrick Academy. Katie also received a Highly Commended in the Maclaurin Award competition.
All images courtesy of Iain Forrest Photography.
Always a popular event here at The Maclaurin, is the Annual Ayr Sketch Club exhibition and they had a busy Private Viewing last Saturday. In addition, this year they celebrate having been in continuous operation for 125 years! The exhibition covers 3 galleries, showcasing works from 47 of their exhibiting members. Whilst the show is running, the Club’s volunteers will be on duty to chat about their work. Look out for their special edition brochure, giving an interesting insight into the history of the Club, as well as inviting new members. This exhibition continues until 8 March. President of Ayr Sketch Club - Janette Coughtrie - opening the show. (Image courtesy of Ayr Sketch Club)
Here are a few photos from the recent opening of the Peter Foyle solo exhibition. Peter is well known in the art world here in Ayrshire as well as much further afield, having hailed from Dorset and whose artwork sells internationally. The entire exhibition can be viewed on our website. It’s a beautiful collection of his latest works, heavily influenced by a Spring trip to the north of Scotland on the NC500. Do call in and see it if you can. The exhibition runs until 11 January 2026.
Our winter season is off to a racing start with the launch of the 31st Annual Save the Children exhibition over the weekend. We had very busy galleries and plenty of sales and interest in the huge array of hanging work on display. In addition, there is a wall of miniatures artworks for sale, a raffle prize of a dazzling abstract painting from local artist Sandra Ratcliffe, a children's competition and a silent auction for a chance to bid on a commissioned animal portrait by Lynne Johnstone. The show runs until 2 November and this year the Save the Children Committee have organised an exciting additional treat! We look forward to welcoming Ozzy the barn owl to the courtyard on SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER from noon til 3pm. This is a free family event and also an opportunity for artists to sketch from life! Ozzy will be there with some of his feathered friends and his handler, Gillian Borland of Hoots Owls and Wedding Wings. Look out for the painting of Ozzy in the exhibition!