Artists of Scotland

Just over a year ago I set myself the project of photographing 100 of the pre-eminent artists of Scotland. The portfolio, of portraits of those artists photographed in their studios and creative spaces, now sits around 125 portraits.

On this page I present some of the latest portraits, shot in the past week or two. (The portrait at the top of the page is Caroline Gormley, who paints in Paisley, and has a show coming up titled 'Kitchen Sink Dramas', a great title. I was really pleased to visit Caroline in the studio and premises where she runs her 'Made in Paisley' painting workshops along with her co-partner Alexander Guy).

I approached the project with quite an open brief, and let it grow organically. I had a list of a few artists whom I wished to photograph, and then I was kindly advised by a fellow artist and friend Sam Ainsley on some other artists she felt I should approach. And from there the list just grew. Some names I found via looking at Scottish art gallery website, such as the Patricia Fleming Gallery, or the Modern Institute, and some artists I read about on the Fleming Collection website and felt they'd be good to meet and photograph.

A lot of the names came via peer recommendation, I'd ask each artist I met and worked with, photographing, "who do you think I should photograph?". And from there the list grew.

The project has gone extremely well, and I feel encompasses many, if not most, of the great artists of Scotland at this juncture in time. I've slowed down a little now, as I turn my attention to some other work and projects, but I've still been photographing some portraits for the portfolio. Will it ever finish, who knows? It may trundle along, there isn't a definite need to finish photographing for the project, but I'm also aware I could continue photographing artists for ever in Scotland, there are so many good artists, but not sure that serves a huge purpose. All projects perhaps find their natural end.

To see the complete portfolio of portraits of Artists of Scotland please visit here.

Many thanks,

Jeremy.