It’s back to school for children and teachers across the Highlands very soon but one teacher won’t be returning to the classroom.
Our co-owner Angus Grant is taking a year-long career break to spend more time on his own artwork. This means he’ll be at the studio even more, ready to blether about art over a cup of coffee in between making and painting.
As you know, Angus is an art and design teacher at Grantown Grammar School – he’s been there for around 17 years, teaching young students to draw, paint and more. He wanted to take a break to concentrate on developing the Spey Bank Studio and his own artwork.
Angus said: “I love teaching and I will miss Grantown Grammar School and the enthusiasm of its pupils over the next year. My colleagues have promised to pop into the studio to keep me updated.
“But I’m looking forward to having more time to develop my painting techniques and create new ceramics. I also hope to teach some different classes at the studio.
“It will also be great to spend more time with my partner, Jane, and our two boys.”
One of the main events on his calendar is North East Open Studios.
This long-running event involves artists across the north-east – from Inverness to Peterhead and Fraserburgh to Montrose – opening the doors to their personal studios to visitors for a week. The event runs from September 7-15.
In 2024, there is a cluster of Strathspey artists taking part, including many who have shown their work at the Spey Bank Studio previously.
Angus said: “North East Open Studios is a great opportunity to meet the artists and find out more about their process. It’s also a chance to go behind the scenes and see a working studio – you never know what secrets you might find.
“I will be in the pottery, making my candle pots and demonstrating some of my ceramic techniques, including the jigger jolly machine.”
The Spey Bank Studio will be open from 10am to 5pm every day during NEOS. A free guidebook is now in stock at the studio so pop in to collect your copy in the run-up to the event. It includes a map of all the venues – Angus is at venue 12 – and there are lots of details about the artists themselves.
But if you want to take a wee tour of Strathspey and the Glenlivet areas, check out this map:
