Three artists, three exhibitions, one month

Three of UHI Moray’s Moray School of Art graduates held exhibitions across the Moray Firth in April. With exhibitions held at Eden Court, Nairn Community and Arts Centre and Moray Art Centre, artists John Ferguson, Rona MacGillivray and Erin Matheson held their exhibits at the same time with each exploring their own personal stories.

Taking place at Eden Court, Erin’s exhibit ‘Possessions of the Self’ was an important milestone, being her first since she graduated. Through the medium of oil paint on board Erin investigates how our connection to everyday objects is formed and when an object stops being merely a possession and transforms into a part of the self. With inspiration coming from the process of moving home in 2020 and rediscovering sentimental objects that have been kept throughout her life.

Erin who graduated in 2023, credits her time at Moray School of Art as valuable to her exhibit preparation stated

“It taught me all the practical skills in how to curate, market, and co-ordinate an exhibition. My course also gave me the confidence to preset my ideas, work collaboratively and manage challenges, if they occur, that come with showing your artwork.

The network and community I gained through my studies has been among the most important aspects since graduating. The Moray School of Art community doesn’t stop when you leave - students, staff and fellow alumni continue to support one another.“

Graduating in 2024, John has already had his fair share of exhibits with his works being part of Future proof exhibition at Street Level Photoworks in Glasgow and the Scottish Society of Artists Annual exhibition in the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh. John’s exhibit at Moray Art Centre is an exploration of using images abstract and ambiguous. Joining fellow artist Roderick McKenzie his exhibit at the Moray Arts Centre is an exploration of using images abstract and ambiguous.

Using multi-media to encourage people to decode and interpret through their own understanding the work, he hopes that the viewer leaves the show with at last one large question mark. 

“We had an exciting well attended opening and for me the highlights were that this was second show I had in the round Gallery at Moray Arts Centre but for the first time outside of Moray School of Art my paintings were on show and the other highlight was seeing photographs alongside the work of the artist Roddy McKenzie’s photography”

Painter and printmaker Rona’s exhibition “House Move - Pieces and Places” reflects her experience with two successive house moves in two years - the first back home to Inverness, then latterly to the farmlands of the Black Isle. The continual changing of the landscape motivated sketches and painting in mixed media and acrylic, whilst the simultaneous unpacking of items from boxes led to hand burnished monotypes “framed” by the paper within which they were wrapped.

Rona who currently is finishing a module in Creative Practice at Moray School of Art stated that just knowing her exhibition was recommended through word of mouth was fabulous and the exhibit was a true learning experience.

“Hanging the exhibition was a learning experience and I received fantastic support from my Outer Spaces and Moray School of Art lecturers/friends.

Hearing such positive feedback was lovely and Nairn Community and Arts Centre facilitated everything in such a professional manner.

Meeting one couple who gave one of my pieces a new home was exciting - a new connection made.“

For more information on Moray School of Art: https://www.moray.uhi.ac.uk/msa