kim scouller artist

I’m a Scottish artist living and working in London. You can see some more of my work and current exhibitions at www.kimscouller.com

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Buttercups

Kim Scouller, Buttercups, oil on canvas, 14 x 10 inches

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Bluebell Woods, Dumfries House

Kim Scouller, Bluebell Woods, Dumfries House, oil on panel, 10 x 22 inches

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Dumfries House Residency 2016

I was very lucky to have spent most of May and a little of June this year on an artist residency at Dumfries House in Ayrshire. I was keen to return there having spent some time painting in the grounds last year, and I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed. 

The Scottish weather was excellent with only a couple of days of rain and mostly sunny, midgie free days, which all contributed to the productive and inspiring time I spent there.

The bluebell woods and the woodland next to the Lugar River (a favourite spot) provided abundant inspiration, with spring blossoms, buttercups and summer sun highlighting the tranquil Scottish landscape.

The residency allowed me the time and space to experiment with my materials particularly in making large pastel drawings. Having this uninterrupted time to make work and reflect on my art practice was truly enriching. It is only now, when I look at the work I did that I see how it has opened up my approach to working in the landscape and my practice as a whole.

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Portraits in Four Colours

Featured in the November issue of Artist & Illustrator magazine, this article I wrote focuses on using Anders Zorn’s limited palette of 4 colours and ways you can use it in portraiture. I first came across Zorn’s work when I was living in Sweden and was struck by his restrained palette and lively brushwork which I really identified with. He’s not so well known in this country but definitely deserves to be looked at!

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Small Scale, BIG STROKES

This is the article I wrote for the September issue of Artist & Illustrator magazine. It’s about my approach to working on a small scale. If you missed it, watch out I’ve got another one coming out soon on using a limited palette!

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Artist & Illustrator Magazine Article

I’m very pleased to have my painting Summer Windowsill Garden featured in this month’s issue of Artist and Illustrator magazine. 

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Woodland Walkies

Kim Scouller, Woodland Walkies, oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches

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A Sense of Place

Recent works by Kim Scouller

Mercer Chance Gallery

17th -26th July 2015

Opening reception Friday 17th July at 7-10pm

A Sense of Place is an exhibition of new drawings and paintings, which explores Kim’s experience of nature within urban, domestic and rural environments found in London and Scotland.

In May this year Kim was awarded a two-week artist residency at Dumfries House inAyrshire, Scotland. Having grown up in rural Ayrshire, Kim immediately connected with the identity and character of the area and quickly set about recording her direct responses to the unique qualities of this somewhat familiar place. The emergence of spring blossom, the river, walled garden and woods all provided ample subject matter and the immersive environment allowed the time and space to be involved in experimentation, reconfiguring her approach as she adapted to this new outdoor studio.

Having only really scratched the surface of the plethora of subject matter this wonderful location had to offer, Kim returned to London charged with the excitement of working directly from nature and ready to tackle a new subject. The residency acted as a catalyst for an exploration into both the wild and tamed nature close to Kim’s studio in north London and the beginnings of a new body of work.

In exploring new ways of seeing and experiencing the urban environment, Richard Mabey’s book ‘The Unofficial Countryside’ has been a great influence giving historical context and insights into the wild land around London. While delving into the nearby woods Kim is reminded of Mabey’s musing on city parks in the 70’s and while some of what he experienced still exists today, there is reason to feel optimistic about the diversity of these urban spaces supporting all kinds of life.

This idea of the wild within the urban setting and in finding a ‘sense of place’ are not only the stimulus for this recent work but have established a dialogue between the artist and the nature which she encounters in her urban dwellings be it within the city or other more domesticated ways of experiencing nature i.e. still life.

About the Artist Kim Scouller graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee in 2003 and then the Prince’s Drawing School, London in 2008 and has spent the past 12 years exploring a variety of approaches to representing life and the world around her.

She has exhibited widely throughout the UK including the BP Portrait Award and is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships. Most notably in 2005 Kim was the winner of the Aspect Prize Scotland’s most prestigious painting prize for emerging artists.

www.kimscouller.com

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Summer Windowsill Garden

Kim Scouller, Summer Windowsill Garden, oil on canvas, 28 x 36 inches

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Solo exhibition of my work opening this week at Mercer Chance Gallery, London.

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Dumfries House Residency - May 2015

I’ve just returned from an inspiring and energising two week artist residency at Dumfries House where I was drawing and painting in and around the beautiful gardens and surrounding woodland of the estate. We were lucky enough to also have a fully equipped studio with amazing views of the landscape. Such a privilege to be there and with such nice and talented people - good times indeed!!

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Royal Society of Portrait Painters 

My self portrait is now on show at the Mall Galleries RSPP exhibition until the 1st of May 2015. Some cracking portraits including work by Ilaria Rosselli del Turco and David Maiden (pictured above). 

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The Generation Game?

Interesting article written by Roger Billcliffe from the Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow about artistic families in Scotland...nice to see we get a mention!

 “The conjunction of two exhibitions this spring from different members of the Goudie family – Lachlan and his father Sandy – set me thinking about the variety and quality of artistic families in Scotland. Thirty years ago I did an exhibition on this theme for The Fine Art Society – perhaps it’s time to revisit [...]”

To continue reading this article go to http://www.billcliffegallery.com/events/event/the-generation-game/

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Royal Society of Portrait Painters

I'm delighted to have my 'self portrait' accepted for this years Royal Society of Portrait Painters exhibition.

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Troon Art Club 

I was honoured to be asked to demonstrate my still life painting for Troon Art Club, Ayrshire. It was great to meet everyone and get some feedback on my process and to talk to other's about their work. Although a little daunting at first I thoroughly enjoyed it! When's the next one?

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Exhibitions

This month I'm excited to be showing at the London Art Fair with The Compass Gallery (stand G21) and exhibiting for the first time with the Stafford Gallery in their Exhibition of Scottish Artists in Wimbledon Village (25th January - 8th February 2015).

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Cabinet Show @ The Compass Gallery, Glasgow

Throughout November and December 2014

I have several small paintings on show at the Compass Gallery in Glasgow in the lead up to Christmas.

The exhibition is based on the idea of cabinet paintings which had their beginnings in the 17th Century and were displayed in specially designed cabinets to contain miniature objects like small portraits/paintings, preparatory drawings, reliefs and sculptures.

The exhibition reflects this tradition with lots of specially commissioned intimately scaled works.