Angus Grant Art

Paddling, Painting, Printing

Tag Archives: Cairngorms


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Mush! Mush!

The Aviemore Sled Dog Rally at Glenmore is always a fantastic spectacle – lots of excited dogs and hundreds of keen spectators along the Loch Morlich tracks.

This year, I’m going to be heading along to join the traders in the marquee – an early start to my year of craft fairs.

The event, organised by the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain, has been running 1984 and now attracts more than 1,000 sled dogs and 250 mushers. This year it’s on Saturday January 26 and Sunday January 27.

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I’m really looking forward to it. Huskies are such beautiful dogs.

Not sure if there’ll be snow yet but I’m looking out the thermals anyway!

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Loch Morlich and the Cairngorms photo by Angus Grant

Thanks to Steven Feasey for the husky photographs. You can find him on Facebook here.

 

 

Loch an Eilein by Angus Grant


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Three commissions

I’ve been taking a break from painting over Christmas but wanted to share my most recent commissions with you.

First up is this colourful picture of Grantown East, the new visitor centre created in a dilapidated railway station on the outskirts of the town. After years of hard graft to get the place up and running, Karen Blessington and Dave Garman wanted a view of the finished site.

Grantown East by Angus Grant

If you’ve visited, you’ll know how beautiful it is. The railway carriages house a restaurant selling excellent pizza, while the old station has been lovingly refurbished to become a shop and visitor centre. It was great to be able to show the place in its new glory.

My second commission was also railway-related: a view from Lagyie on the A95 whisky road, looking towards the Strathspey Railway and beyond to the Cairngorms.

Lagyie by Angus Grant

It’s a really stunning view and I enjoyed painting the steam engine and its carriages.

Finally, I was asked to paint Loch an Eilein for a present.

Loch an Eilein by Angus Grant

I haven’t done this scene for a while so it was good to return to it: it’s such a popular and beautiful place. I’m delighted with how it turned out, particularly the castle.

Happy New Year when it comes and here’s to lots of new painting challenges in 2019!

Landscape painting upside down, Angus Grant


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Painting upside down

I’m still working away on my fishy pictures. Now that I’ve laid down the main colours, I’m starting on the details – the trees, mountains, water, rocks and fish (of course). This is the hard work of the painting and I’ll take my time to get it just right.

…Which leads me to a wee tip to help you. If after a while you decide to repaint the sky, turn your canvas upside down to prevent pesky blue drips ruining the lower part of your work.

As you can see in the picture below, I repainted the sky on this view of Loch Morlich after I painted in lots of detail in the foreground. Skies are easy to redo (more on those another time) but imagine how annoying it would be to see my lovely mountains and salmon ruined.

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Loch Morlich sale


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SALE: £10 OFF LOCH MORLICH BEACH

It’s my first “Black Friday Cyber Monday” and I’ve got a great deal for you!

Get the Loch Morlich Beach pine print for just £29.95, with free postage and packing, when you shop online.

Stock is limited so you need to be quick!

sale!

 

Loch Morlich Beach Cairngorms by Angus Grant


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Back to Glenmore

Regular visitors will know how much I love Loch Morlich – for the scenery and for the fishing. The waters and the mountains are a constant source of inspiration for my art so when the chance came up to show work nearby at the Glenmore Visitor Centre, I could not refuse. It seems fitting to take my art back to where it started.

From July 21, I’ll be exhibiting a range of works at the centre, which is just off the main ski road to the Cairngorms. It’s a great wee venue providing information about the surrounding forest (run by Forestry Commission Scotland), and the cafe serves excellent cake, which is a bonus!

Among the works will be my railway poster series – with new additions to the collection specially for this show. The two paintings below – of Loch Morlich and the Lily Loch – are works in progress. And I’ll have the pine prints and mugs, including my new chunky fishy mugs.

The exhibition will be open from 9.30am to 4.30pm and will run for around 10 days. Looking forward to meeting lots of new people down there!

Loch Morlich Cairngorms by Angus Grant

Loch Morlich by Angus Grant

The Lily Loch, Cairngorms National Park, by Angus Grant

The Lily Loch by Angus Grant

Blue Zulu trout


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The other side of the hill

One of my further flung events this year is on the other side of the Cairngorms, deep in Deeside.

I’m really excited to have been invited to take part in the annual Art Aboyne exhibition this year for the first time. It includes a fantastic range of 2D and 3D works from more than 60 artists. From paintings and jewellery to sculpture and photography: something for everyone to enjoy.

I’m showing a collection of fishy paintings – you can see a preview here.

The show is held at the Victory Hall in the centre of the village, from July 22 to August 12 and is open from 10am-6pm every day.

The exhibition committee even organise artists’ demonstrations. When I visited last year, there was a wood turner set up outside the hall, displaying his skills by making tiny goblets!

Art Aboyne
Veil of Water by Angus Grant
Blue Zulu

 

 

 

 

Veil of Water by Angus Grant


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A wee preview

With a packed summer of exhibitions and craft fairs about to start, I’ve been busy preparing my work. Painting, framing, printing mugs and packaging up greetings cards, along with lots of other little tasks that come along with these events.

Got some new paintings framed for the various shows I’m involved in (See Exhibitions page and Events and Workshops page for more details of where I’ll be). A couple of classic fish portraits and a favourite view of Loch Morlich, looking up to the Cairngorms.

There’s a few more in the pipeline, which I’ll try and share when they’re done!

Blue and Gold by Angus Grant
Blue and Gold by Angus Grant
Veil of Water by Angus Grant
Veil of Water by Angus Grant
First view of Loch Morlich by Angus Grant
First view of Loch Morlich by Angus Grant

 

Lochs and Landscapes


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Lochs and Landscapes: a new exhibition

My first summer exhibition is approaching fast. I’m joining Campbell Bryson (former head of art at Grantown Grammar) for a show at the Iona Gallery in Kingussie in July.

We’ve both got similar influences but distinctive styles and I’m delighted that we’re going to be exhibiting together again.

Campbell’s work focus on the effects of sunlight and shadows, producing expressive landscapes featuring Highland beaches and his trademark birch trees.

I’m working on some new paintings but will be showing my recent series based on the vintage railway posters as well as others featuring local lochs.

The show runs from July 7-14. And you’re welcome to come to opening night on Friday July 7, from 7pm-9pm – there’ll be a wee glass of wine or soft drink to celebrate!

You can find out about my other events during the summer on the Exhibitions page and also on the Events and Workshops page.

Lochs and Landscapes

Lochs and Landscapes

 

Rynettin painting in progress


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A new look at a bright bothy

This is one of my latest works in progress in my new railway poster series. It’s a new take on one of my favourite views in the Cairngorms, at Rynettin, near Nethy Bridge.

I love the way the red roof of the hut stands out against the green field in this new work. It’s also one of my most popular paintings so it’s a great challenge to paint it in a different way. This one’s nearly finished now.

You can see an earlier version at the top of the page.

Rynettin painting in progress

Work in progress