Kirkcudbright Crafts Assocciation.  Their website contains details of many active craftspeople in and around the town. more>>

ART & ARTISTS

"In Kirkcudbright one either fishes or paints...." So said Dorothy L. Sayers  in the introduction to Five Red Herrings (1931), which she based on her regular visits to the town's artistic community in the 1920s. She may well have had the artist William Robson in mind, remembering his enthusiasm for fly fishing and field sports in general.

Kirkcudbright was then home to distinguished artists, of whom E.A. Hornel, Jessie M. King and her husband, E.A. Taylor, and Charles Oppenheimer were the most prominent. It was also the summer haunt of visiting artists, such as S.J. Peploe, the Scottish Colourist, and Robert Burns, Head of Painting at Edinburgh College of Art. It was Burns who said that no student's training was complete without a stay with the Taylors in Kirkcudbright.  

Many examples of the works of these famous artists of the past are still to be found in the town. The story of the town's artists is told in the Tolbooth Art Centre, and their work can be seen there, and in the Hornel Art Gallery and the Stewartry Museum. But this is a never-ending story, for a remarkable number of artists and craftworkers are still resident in Kirkcudbright and the surrounding area. The work of the current generation can be seen in exhibitions in the town's galleries, and some of the artists themselves can sometimes be seen at work in the studios in the Tolbooth Art Centre.

The Artists' Footsteps Website has more information on the landscape artists of Dumfries and Galloway and contains many beautiful images of Kirkcudbright.

THE GALLERIES OF KIRKCUDBRIGHT 
AND SURROUNDING AREA

A PERSONAL SELECTION OF LOCAL ARTISTS 
AND CRAFTSPEOPLE

NOTE: The following list is far from exhaustive. New names are added as opportunities arise.

Jane B. Gibson, R.M.S., H.S.  Painter. Born in Smithton, Tasmania, 1954, Jane has lived in Kirkcudbright since 1959 where she now has a studio which is open to the public. Artist in Residence to the Dorothy L Sayers Society, she is highly acclaimed for landscapes, portraits and other works in oil, watercolour and pastel, and for her Fine Art miniatures.   more» Maureen Briggs D.A. Painter.  Grew up in the Stewartry, studied in Glasgow, now sells her work from her High Street Gallery. Known for her paintings of cats and jugs, to which she has recently added hand-painted wooden cats and free-standing, hanging and hook racks. more» Richard Ross D.A. Painter. Born in Glasgow, where he studied at the School of Art, he has exhibited his drawings and paintings in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling. Moved to Kirkcudbright in 1999; his work is available from the High Street Gallery  Kate Anderson who lives at Tongland, works in many interesting mediums and organises workshops and courses. Visit her website for more information » Delya Randall. Now a resident in Kirkcudbright, Delya specialises in watercolour landscapes and is keen to become involved in the town. more» Derek Wightman. Painter. Kirkcudbright resident working in many mediums. Visitors welcome by appointment. more» Joan Proctor.  Painter. Self-taught, and with a keen eye for colour accuracy, Joan's main interest is painting flowers with occasional ventures into landscapes.  more» John Collyer. Painter and craftsman. Kirkcudbright artists concentrating on watercolour landscapes. Also creates superb old-fashioned boats to scale .  more» Alistair Hall. Painter. A native of Kirkcudbright, Alistair works in the family butcher's business in the town, and enjoys painting in watercolour when the opportunity arises.  more» Pauline Saul. Painter. Living and working in The Greengate, High Street, former home of Glasgow Girl  Jessie M King.  Employing a style which uses a variety of mixed media, giving a different and spontaneous slant to subjects. more» Kie Stewart. Painter and Craftsman. A native of Galloway born in Kirkcowan and now living in Kirkcudbright after many years in London. Also produces crafts featuring prints of his ‘local’ paintings. more» John Clark. Painter & Poet. Although John lives and works in Dumfries, he has a passion for Kirkcudbright, and his work can often be seen at the Harbour Cottage Gallery.  more» Hazel Campbell. Artist & Tutor. Hazel lives and works near Kirkcudbright and she can often be see with her "Summer School" art classes in the town. more» Sylvia Robertson, was born in Kirkcudbright and now lives in New Galloway.  She is a regular contributer to the exhibitions at the Harbour Cottage Gallery. more» Angela Lawrence lives in Kirkcudbright and has an open studio where she welcomes you. For more details visit her clience studio website

Jo Gallant. Textile artist. Studied weaving at Birmingham and works with dye painting, appliqué and embroidery. Her work is characterised by rich, deep colours and is influenced by the landscapes around her. In the early 1990s she moved from Sutherland to Kirkcudbright, where she sells her textile pieces from her gallery Ironstones.  Kathryn King Designer Jeweller. Daughter of a Kirkcudbright family, she graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1996 and set up in business in the town producing gold, silver, platinum and diamond jewellery. Repairs and commissions are undertaken and a wide range of original designs are on display in the shop. Kathryn King website Margart S Milligan lives and paints in Kirkcudbright. Her story, and some examples of her work ar to be found on her website. Margaret S Milligan website Zachariah Toadstool. Musicians. Kirkcudbright’s almost famous band in the 80s reform most years to play in or near Kirkcudbright. CDs available from the Zachariah Toadstool website.  Children's Wall Murals. Visit the website of this rather unusual Kirkcudbright artist and see the work that he does. Jerry Slater is an artist living and working in Kirkcudbright, specialising in portraiture. Examples of his work are to be found on his website.