We are a gallery that celebrates the Cairngorms landscape and recent scenes just a few miles away have stung our community hard.
But we are also hopeful that recovery and regeneration is possible, and we know that we will always love our home.
In that spirit, we welcome one of our favourite local artists to the gallery this month with an exhibition that takes us to a “Happy Place”.
Cathy Haworth has been a friend to the Spey Bank Studio since before Day 1 – she is the graphic designer who created our lovely logo, the creator behind the Cairn Gang, the cute set of local animals that adorn some of our products (and tattoos), and she designs all our wonderful exhibition posters.
And she paints!
This multi-talented artist lives in Nethy Bridge and was evacuated during the recent wildfires. She said it was a scary and surreal time for them - reflected in the fact that Cathy grabbed the paintings for this exhibition plus a favourite mug when they left at midnight, rather than essentials such as a toothbrush and contact lenses.
Happy Place is her homage to “a beautifully magical part of the world”, one that she has made home. She says that she wants her paintings to make people smile.
Cathy said: “It makes me happy and grateful that I get to call a teeny tiny corner of it home. It’s easy here, even amongst the day-to-day harrumphs and grumbles, to find things to be happy about, to be inspired and throw around some colourful happy-coloured paints and see what happens.
“I didn't do art at school: my school convinced my parents that art wasn't a 'real A-level' back in the nineties, advising them I do geography instead (which I failed).
“I also don't see in 3D. So my scales, perspectives and shadows are all over the shop. I also walk into things a lot.
“But bumping into trees, wandering along trails, listening to the birds, hiding from social interactions with other humans and social media, sitting on rocks, taking in stunning views - ideally with coffee in hand from one of our local amazing coffee shops - will always be all of my happy places.
Cathy’s paintings are always colourful, full of life and texture. She splatters the paint and takes us to a world of mountains, bothies and, often, sheep. These are scenes that feel familiar.
And we also love her titles, which are among the longest we’ve had in the gallery. Cathy’s paintings start a little story in your head – when you take her work home, you continue the tale.
