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.
This vibrant selection of predominately new work by Scottish artist Lex McFadyen, adorns gallery one. Most of his work was completed in his sunny French studio at Noyers-sur-Serein, Burgundy. Each one a shining jewel on the canvas and, so far, has proved a popular show with visitors. Images here are from launch day on 24 May and show Lex alongside the gallery’s curator Dianne Gardner. McFadyen grew up in Ayrshire before completing his degree at Glasgow School of Art and he went on to have a successful career in fashion. Now he has come full circle, returning to his first love of painting and we are delighted that he has returned to Ayrshire for a solo show! This exhibition runs until 30 June. There’s still time to see it… or call in again for another look! All artwork is for sale and affordably priced, original artwork. The perfect statement piece to transform any wall in your home.
Spring has been busy in the gallery with the launch of both the Glasgow Society of Women Artists' annual exhibition and ‘If You Don’t Ask’ by freelance photographer for the press, Alistair Devine.
The first exhibition of the year is Ayr Sketch Club's Annual Exhibition. It's always a popular event with a wide range of Ayrshire based artists. We hosted a ‘Meet the Artists’ event midway through their exhibition as, sadly, their scheduled exhibition launch was cancelled due to storm Eowyn. What a great afternoon it was, bustling with artists and visitors! This exhibition continues until the end of March.