Artwork inspired by the Aberdeenshire wilderness – which even uses nature’s remains as a canvas – has been put on display in the north-east.
Kyle Noble’s work takes its inspiration from the ancient history of rural Aberdeenshire and the hunter-gatherers who once made a living from the land.
The Alford man has created his very own mythology centred around a fictional ancient culture called The Meiklians, who in his universe were the builders of the north-east’s stone circles.
Mr Noble, 28, has made this mythical past the basis of his work for the past two years, calling it The Meiklain Project.
Now, an exhibition of his work – entitled Before the Stones – has been launched at Aberdeen’s Newave Gallery in the Castlegate.
Mr Noble’s visionary Aberdeenshire is a place of shamans, ancient woodlands inspired by the Caledonian Forest and sacred mountains, often featuring the Mither Tap itself.
He depicts the world through landscape paintings, but also etches entire narratives upon animal skulls, skeletons and carcasses discovered in north-east woodlands.
“I have been doing this project since 2012, turning to this landscape for inspiration,” he said.
“I went to Taiwan in 2010 and was there for 15 months. When there I was homesick and that was when I started thinking about this idea.
“I came back and did a masters in Edinburgh. During that time I was able to put down this myth.
“The project is called the Meiklian Project, which comes from a forest near my house near Alford, the Meiklian forest. That is where a lot of the deer skulls I find come from.”
Mr Noble, who now works from Edinburgh, added that the Highlands also influences his artwork.
He said: “I have been working in places like Aviemore and looking to the Caledonian Forest to get more inspiration for this. I have gone into the wilder areas of Scotland.”
Mr Noble’s exhibition will run until December 1.
