Art

A winter stroll

by Athole Murray Fleming

This is the time of the year when we need to get out and away from the festive table. Get our walking shoes back on and get out and about with the family to help lose that extra pound or two put on by our excesses.

What better way of spending a winter afternoon than by popping around Perthshire’s art galleries for a little cultural escape from those mind draining so called reality TV shows and those repeat movies.

Starting in Perth at FRAMES GALLERY you will find over twenty tow artists on display, including Jane Cruickshank, Lucy Campbell and Lindsay Gardiner. These are truly excellent artists, I know because I own paintings by all of them, so how is that for a personal recommendation? and every time I go into Frames I never ever know what to expect…just go there!!

Over in Crieff we visit two galleries when we are in the town. ARTERY GALLERY is small but packed with a eyeful of hooded minks would you believe! Created by Manolis Patramanis from Crete, these are quite fun and would make an excellent gift for anyone with a taste for the unusual. I think the word ‘intriguing’ would describe these little fellows with no faces…. ah!…you will need to see them for yourself now!

Walking down the main street we come to the STRATHEARN GALLERY which is on two levels, both full of some of the most beautiful art in the county. This is a shoppers dream as it is packed with glassware, ceramics, paintings, jewellery and with their mixed show running till 5th January, a ‘must visit’ location this festive time.

On leaving Crieff we head over r to Dunkeld, a place where I spent many years of my childhood and still a very special place in my heart. The ATHOLL GALLERY is always a stopping off point when we are in the area. We have many lizard, frogs and bats on the walls of our conservatory from here! The winter exhibition, which runs till 7th January, includes works by Kate Philp, George Birrell and Dronma, along with many favourite ‘gallery’ artistes.

Aberfeldy is always a lovely drive in the car with so many historic places to see and great local shop to pop into, so the ABERFELDY GALLERY is our next destination. Here, you will find a huge array of artistes work on show through I think four rooms crammed with something for everyone.

Finally I head over to Meigle and The VILLAGE GALLERY because I know that here I can look at the art and visit the adjoining homes and interiors part of the business too. And I happen to know that by the end of January there will also be a coffee shop here too as part of the galley. So this will be an even better place to stop off, have a look around and rest your weary legs!!

Well, that’s me for another year…. more art on the walls of Fleming Mansions….more money spent….but a great time was had doing it. So now it is your turn to get out of your comfy chairs this festive time…
“step away from the turkey!”

Cheers,

Athole