Exuberant about my solo exhibition!

Venue: Old Gala House, Galashiels, Scottish Borders c/o Live Borders

Dates:  June 12th PV, June 13th - July 25th 2026

No of pieces exhibited = 46 (felt paintings, vessels and felt jewellery)

I have been fortunate enough to have been selected for a few collaborative art exhibitions over the years, the first back in 2004, when I won first prize for a pastel/watercolour painting. More recently, with the launch of my felt art business in 2025, my felt paintings were selected to show with Visual Arts Scotland’s ‘Common Ground’ exhibition and at the Great Tapestry of Scotland as part of ‘Making Together’ exhibition,@ the Tangled Festival.

And as wonderful as it has been sharing the spotlight with such talented and supportive artists, I have to admit that the ‘control freak’ in me was in her element when planning and executing my first solo show at Old Gala House with live Borders this June /July.

‘The Exuberance Collection’ was over two years in the making, and it was supplemented at the exhibition with an ante room full of my representational ‘Inspired Landscapes’.

Here is a wee film by the talented Ruidi Collins showing the highlights of the Private View:

So revealing:

My signature style is BOLD in terms of :use of colour,

                                                                   maxi scale,

                                                                   highly textured/sculpted relief surface

I was apprehensive about how my work would be received collectively by the public, as the colour punches you in the face when you walk into the gallery.

I imagined people shaking their heads and quietly walking away, but I was blown away by the positive response my work received from the show.

The footfall was unprecedented.

The feedback was amazing,

The PR was effective,

The artist talk was very well attended.

And there were even some lovely sales from the show!

So much more work than I expected (creating the work, framing it, planning the curation, organising the PR materials, and then finally taking down the exhibition. (Thank goodness for my ever supportive hubby!) So exhausting, but so much fun!

I was surprised at how many local folk had never been to Old Gala House previously.

I was delighted that so many folk that I had chatted with at the Tangled Festival ventured back down to Old Gala House to view my solo exhibition the following month.

Shown Above: ‘Kalypso’ (to be added to the website shortly…)

An artist friend of mine forewarned me about how much fun solo shows are, oh, how true!

I can’t wait for the next one, but I will happily give myself a wee break and look forward to showing collaboratively in the shorter term.

Felting is endlessly enjoyable and versatile, and I look forward to the creation of my next Collection, once I have fully recovered from being so full of Exuberance!