Artists Catherine Ross and Elaine Murray have come together at Aberdeen’s Rendezvous Gallery. Catherine talks to Natasha Mckim about the exhibition
Catherine Ross, 25, is one of the two artists currently exhibiting at Rendezvous Gallery in Aberdeen. On until May 20, Painted Space features works by her and Elaine Murray, with a large emphasis on the environment and nature.
Born in Yellowknife in Canada to Scottish parents, Catherine is a full-time visual artist who specialises in painting. In this exhibition she examines the idea of ‘north’, looking at the connections between what is imagined and what is real and using her own experiences with northern environments.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN CREATIVE AND IS IT SOMETHING WHICH RUNS IN THE FAMILY?
I have always painted, since I was a child. I have always wanted to make objects and draw. I’d say my whole family have keen interest in the arts.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO EXPLORE ‘NORTH’ FOR THIS EXHIBITION?
I have been driven to make work about the idea of ‘north’ since studying at Gray’s School of Art. The work combines my ideas about my childhood in Canada, and my recent experiences of northern landscapes, including Scotland.
DID YOU KNOW ELAINE MURRAY BEFORE WORKING TOGETHER ON PAINTED SPACE?
This exhibition has introduced me to Elaine and her work. It is engaging to be able to compare our approaches in painting. It is great to have such an insight into an islander artist’s practice. This is the first time I have exhibited with the Rendezvous Gallery.
WHAT EXPERIENCES ARE YOU DRAWING UPON WHEN CREATING YOUR PAINTINGS AND MODELS?
I use early childhood memories and direct observation of landscape to inform my paintings and models. For further research, I travelled through Canada during the autumn of 2015, where I spent time in Alberta and the Rocky Mountain National Park.
I also was able to travel further north to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, with the support of The Royal Scottish Academy’s William Littlejohn Award 2015. My work is also enriched by the landscape around my studio in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL WHEN THEY LOOK AT YOUR WORK?
I find it most encouraging when the work prompts people to reminisce about their own experiences and attachments to different landscapes. I enjoy it when people are prompted to remember their own adventures.
in Aberdeen until May 20. See http://rendezvous-gallery.co.uk/exhibition
