1 JENNY MATTHEWS 0131-441 2620
www.jennymatthews.co.uk Successful artist for 20-plus years who counts Ian Rankin as a fan. Last year, won a prize at a Royal Watercolour Society comp
etition. Her inspiration is from painting flowers. A frequent visitor to the Royal Botanic Garden, complete with sketch book, in spring she is found in neighbours' gardens painting tulips and irises. Her new exhibition Flowers in Full Colour is at the Colours Gallery, 41 Dundas Street, Edinburgh from 1-26 March
2 SUSAN MITCHELL01721 723 385
Peebles-based full-time watercolour artist and etcher who draws upon a farming background as the inspiration for her work. From sheep grazing on wintry hills to farm steadings with falling- down walls and doors with rusty hinges, there is a fond familiarity in her work. Susan will be at Gardening Scotland and The Royal Highland Show in June and has an exhibition at the Peter Potter Gallery in Haddington (Sept-Oct 2008).
3 JANET MELROSE01764 650 960
Has held a lifelong fascination with watercolour. Now based in Crieff , her main inspiration comes from her surroundings and incidents that happen when she is out and about. She is particularly inspired by the vibrancy of Chinese patterns and dragons. Recent winner of the Visual Art Scotland annual show, and will exhibit at the Peter Pottery Gallery, Haddington in March. Her works can also be seen at the Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh.
4 LEO DU FEUwww.leodufeu.co.ukBased in his home studio in Linlithgow and inspired by the natural environment. Spends much of his time exploring Scotland by bike or on foot. His paintings reflect that he is out in all weathers and captures the variety and drama of nature. Many of his works feature the Aberdeenshire coast where he has family ties. Look out for Leo's largest commission, a four-metre high depiction of land, sky and space at the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh. His paintings can also be seen at CarbyArt Gallery, Aberdeen, and Line Gallery, Linlithgow.
5 JENNIE TUFFS www.jennietuffs.co.uk Best-known for vibrant flower portraits, her recent work focuses as much on exploring place and space as on natural still life. Her medium – unforgiving liquid acrylics – is deliberately chosen to reflect the need to match the subjects' own energy and light. As one of the artists commissioned by London Underground for a series of posters to brighten up the Tube, her works became familiar to many millions of Tube travellers.
The full article contains 427 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
