This project is a collaboration between me and Heather Downie.  The Exhibition explored the intersection of fantastical kitsch and Scotland's natural landscapes, combining Heather’s illustrative work and my interactive sculptures to create a single-room, immersive experience.  The project draws on themes of accessibility, storytelling, and a re-imagining of the familiar landscapes of Scotland. 

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Heather Downie’s contribution draws from the flora of Scotland’s landscapes, where she magnifies the beauty, colours, and patterns found in nature. Her illustrations transform these natural elements into abstracted, kaleidoscopic environments that are playful, dynamic, and full of energy. Her work invites the viewer to swim between brushstrokes and explore familiar details within these newly imagined spaces. Combining her love for nature with fantastical elements inspired by artists like Hannah Frank, Aubrey Beardsley, and Brian Froud. Her series of illustrations explored themes from her recent black ink drawings, serving as a fantasy-style journal of autobiographical experiences and dreams. 

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For my part, I created a series of sculptures inspired by the Crawick Multiverse, a site that resonates with themes of cosmic landscapes, abstraction, and the interplay between physical and imagined spaces. The work was building on my surrealist influences from women artists of the 1920s-1960s, such as Leanora Carrington and Dorothea Tanning, who challenged the boundaries of reality and the subconscious. 

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The exhibition explored themes of nature, abstraction, and fantasy. Drawing on our individual practices to create a cohesive narrative within the single-room space. The overarching concept revolves around reimagining the landscapes of Scotland through a fantastical, kitsch lens, blending Heather’s energetic illustrations with my surreal sculptures.

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·       Flora and Fantasy: Heather’s work emphasises the abstract beauty found in Scottish landscapes, blending vibrant colours, patterns, and forms to create new, imagined environments. Her illustrations invite the viewer to move fluidly between physical and ethereal spaces, where familiar details are abstracted and recontextualised.

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·       Kitsch and Accessibility: Our exhibition seeks to challenge the notion of what is considered “high” art versus “low” art. By embracing kitsch—a style often dismissed for its excess and playfulness—we aim to disrupt traditional artistic hierarchies and make our work accessible to a broad audience. We want to create an environment where viewers feel welcomed, regardless of their background or familiarity with contemporary art.