Artists of Scotland, two portraits.

This week I’ve added two more artists to my Artists of Scotland portrait series that I worked on last year. The portfolio of portraits of the pre-eminent artists of our times, here in Scotland, photographed in their studios and creative spaces now sits at approximately 120.

This week I met and photographed, I like to think of these meetings as collaborations, with artists Shauna McMullan and Mary Redmond.

Shauna McMullan, artist, in Glasgow, Scotland, on 22 January 2024. ©Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert 2024. From the RSA website:“Shauna McMullan RSA (Elect) is an artist and lecturer. Her main areas of research are in feminism, geography and collective practice. McMullan is interested in the relationship between geography and art and wonders if it’s possible as an artist to employ the language of cartography to create alternative mappings or counter cartographies. The work which can take the form of sculpture, installation, printmaking and/or text, is underpinned by an ongoing enquiry into equality and diversity with a particular focus on gender politics. Context informs the medium. Maps and mapping are central to her practice. Her projects include: I Gladly Strained My Eyes To Follow You, Pollok House, Glasgow (2018); The Albert Drive Colour Chart, Tramway, Glasgow (2013); The Blue Spine Collection made for Glasgow Women’s Library (2010); Travelling the Distance commissioned for the Scottish Parliament (2006) and Via, Toyota Museum of Modern Art, Japan (2005). These extend her interest, creating artworks not specifically about mapping the physical earth, but instead charting mutual topographies and our relatedness and connectivity to one another. Her interest in context, dialogue and engagement are crucial factors in the work and extend to all areas of her practice – from gallery-based exhibitions to large scale, permanent public artworks.”

Shauna I had actually photographed once before, about 25 years ago as part of a ‘Behind the Scenes at the National Galleries of Scotland’ project that I was commissioned to document. Back then Shauna was an artist in residence up north in Scotland at Duff House. This week I nipped over the the north side of Glasgow to go meet and photograph with Shauna. It was intertesting to chat up and a great chat, with her studio and creative space being lit by a huge bank of windows. Lovely, and even though it’d taken a little while to get a mutually convenient time for the portrait shoot I’m ultimately glad I persevered and to be able to include Shauna’s portrait in the wider portfolio.

Mary Redmond, artist, in her WASPS South Block studio, in Glasgow, Scotland, on 23 January 2024. ©Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert 2024.

The following day I went down to South Block artist studios in the city centre, where I’ve been a few times to meet artists for this project, and I photographed with artist Mary Redmond. I’ve recently been enjoying Mary’s work, sort of sculptural pieces using wire, materials, threads, and colour, on her Instagram channel. But the photos don’t do them justice, seeing them in real life in her studio was a lot more exciting, and the works really lived and looked alive and fresh. Really enjoyable to see.

It’s been great to meet and photograph with both women, and helps add to my portfolio which documents the artists of our times here in Scotland. The wider project was exhibited at the end of last year at Stallan Brand, and hopefully will be shown again at a different venue.

See it here: Artists of Scotland portraits portfolio.

If you’re an artist in need of a set portraits of yourself in your studio please do get in touch, I’m also available for commissions. Just drop me a note and we can chat. Many thanks.

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