Swanson Gallery

High Life Highland delivers community learning and leisure services including library and information services on behalf of The Highland Council.

The Swanson Gallery, Thurso Library

Gallearaidh Swanson, Inbhir Theòrsa
Davidson's Lane, Thurso KW14 7AS
Swanson Gallery tel: 01847 896357

Opening times
Mon, Tue, Wed - 1 to 5pm; Fri – 1 to 8pm; Sat - 10am to 1pm; Closed Thurs and Sun
Admission Free

The Swanson Gallery hosts a varied year-round programme of touring exhibitions of fine art and craft.

Image: Lucy Casson, Chess Set (detail) - from Turned & Twisted exhibition

Exhibitions

Seeds of Time
Liz Douglas
7th January - 4th February 2012

An exhibition of drawings and paintings inspired by the artist’s research of the natural world – in particular plant and seed structures. Working in the field, on sites of special scientific interest, she collaborates with scientists and environmentalists to gain a deeper understanding of her subject. Using a scanning electron microscope to investigate structures and forms from graptolite fossils, alpine plants, tree and plant pollen, she reveals the wonders of a world invisible to the naked eye.

Born and brought up in Angus, she studied at Edinburgh College of Art before moving to live and work in the Scottish Borders. As well as her fascination with the Borders landscape, her northern roots have also influenced her painting – she recently went to Forsinard in the Flow Country, Caithness and Sutherland, when she became intrigued by the stories and descriptions of the vastness of that landscape. The habitat, especially the pools of water, were inspiration for recent paintings in the Whitlaw Moss series.

Seeds of Time includes work from seven series of paintings: Dobs Lynn 1993 – 1995; Hanging Gardens 1996 – 1997; Carrifran 1996 – 2000; Willowlines, Ettrick Marshes 2001 – 2006; Ettrick 2006 – 2008; Yarrow 2007; Mire, Whitlaw Mosses 2008 – 2011. Underpinning each series is the theme of growth and regeneration – a universal theme.