Most people who frequent the East Neuk of Fife in summer will be aware of the arts festival held every August in Pittenweem. However, many may not be aware of the emergence of a new centre for art within the East Neuk in the beautiful seaside village of Elie.
There are a few small galleries popping up and some artists have even started to exhibit from their own homes. Perhaps Elie is beginning to follow in the footsteps of its nearby neighbour, Pittenweem. Unlike Pittenweem, there is no brochure showing the artists’ locations, but most are easy to find on the main thoroughfare through the village and the AA usually provides road signs to direct you to the exhibition of well-known Elie artist Jennifer Thomson.
Jennifer, who has held an exhibition in Elie almost every summer for the last 15 years, said: “Elie is a lovely place to exhibit, not as crowded as Pittenweem, with a happy, upbeat holiday atmosphere.”
Jennifer trained as an artist at Edinburgh College of Art from 1987 to 1992, where she gained her honours then post-graduate degree along with several awards and prizes. She taught art for a few years at Madras College, St Andrews, before giving up teaching to paint full time in 1998. Her work is included in various art collections such as the Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh’s City Arts Centre and Paintings in Hospitals. Her work is now spreading all over the world and she has been commissioned by organisations and individuals in the US, Canada, Australia and Japan.
She will be exhibiting new paintings in her unmistakably colourful, figurative style at the Old Post Office Gallery on Links Place, Elie, from July 27 to August 10.
She will also be signing copies of her new book of paintings and artist’s notes called Happy Days in the East Neuk and St Andrews. Her book brings together the best of her work, with paintings of Lower Largo, Earlsferry, Elie, St Monans, Kilconqhuar, Pittenweem, Anstruther, Crail and the neighbouring town of St Andrews.
Robert Innes, another well-known Scottish artist, who spends much of his time painting in France, is exhibiting in Elie at the same time from his home, Wayside, 40 High Street. He will be showing a collection of new work mainly in oils.
Robert Innes trained at Leith and Glasgow Schools of Art. He is a contemporary plein-air landscape painter whose work can be found in the collections of Kirkcaldy Art Gallery and Museum, Stirling University, Paintings in Hospitals and numerous private collections around the world. His work is essentially a celebration of life, whether it is Scottish land and seascapes, orchards in blossom in England and France or colour-soaked canvases of azaleas and rhododendrons in his garden in Somerset.
Also exhibiting at the same time, local artist Anne Dunlop is showing at her home, Roseville, Links Place, Elie. Anne paints expressive landscapes and seascapes in subtle hues, often using a palette knife to create texture.
This group of artists represents a varied selection of interesting and appealing styles which are well worth the trip to Elie.
Exhibition of new paintings at The Old Post Office Gallery, Links Place, Elie, from July 27 to August 10, from 10am- 5pm. Jennifer’s book can be ordered from her website, www.jenniferthomson.com
