This year, the Festival Art Exhibition returns to the McKechnie Institute for a month.

Like last year, there will be a display of Girvan Academy pupils’ photography and a small selection of their artwork, and an exhibition of children’s artwork for ‘Tattie Fest’ will also be in the McKechnie.

Admission to the exhibition is free, and it will showcase the work of local artists and those taking part in the festival. 

The exhibition will run in the McKechnie Institute for four weeks until the 25th of June.

The exhibition will be open from 10:30 – 4:30 on both Saturday and Sunday of the Arts Festival, but there will be normal opening hours for the rest of the exhibition. 

McKechnie Institute Opening hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 1pm – 4pm
Wednesday 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Thursday 1pm – 4pm
Friday 1pm – 4pm
Saturday 10:30am – 4pm
Sunday Closed

Featured Artists 

 Julie Campbell                  Rod McCance    

Sandra Clelland                 Sarah Hurn

Janet Laurie                        Ian Mackenzie

William Allan McMillan

 Scroll down for more detail about our featured artists.

William Allan McMillan was born in the mining town of Cumnock, Ayrshire. In 1959, he attended Glasgow School of Art, 1977-81, gaining B. A. Honours in Fine Art: Drawing & Painting, under the tutelage of David Donaldson, Duncan Shanks and Sandy Moffat.

Allan was a Principal Teacher of Art for 21 years and the Painting Tutor with Auchinleck Adults Community Art Group, 1993-2014

Allan is a Landscape Painter and Poet who is inspired mainly by nature; the changing light and the Scottish landscapes of Ayrshire, Argyll and The Hebrides. Working mainly in pen & ink, pastel and oils, Allan’s style ranges from the naturalistic to the semi-abstract. To date he has produced a number of Poetry and Drawing books.

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Ian Mackenzie graduated from Glasgow School of Art with a B.A. Honours Degree in Drawing and Painting in 1983.

Ian has exhibited and sold his work regularly since leaving Art School.

Over the years he has had a variety of jobs, but has always carried on drawing and painting.

From 2008 he has run his own business – “Fine Art Originals”.

He has also successfully undertaken a variety of commissioned works including several mural projects, as well as sign-writing, banner painting and stained glass works.

At present he runs his own art classes in Girvan, where he lives and works, and also tutors individual students.

 Website    

Julie M Campbell is a mixed media artist. She graduated from Grays School of Art in Aberdeen in 1991.  Julie likes whimsical, quirky and nature based subjects. She uses collage and a whole array of materials. She believes in keeping a regular sketchbook practise and is keen to share this enthusiasm by hosting regular drawing groups and art journalling workshops locally. Currently, Julie is exploring and experimenting printmaking in all its forms. 

Sarah Hurn moved to the Girvan area three years ago following a life changing car crash. She had various career changes since graduating from Loughborough University School of Art and Design in 1997 including being an embalmer and  Prison Officer. 

The Ayrshire landscape inspired her to pick up her brushes again and she has gone from strength to strength exhibiting and selling her work and moving into her own studio in the wee old school in Henrietta Street, Girvan. 

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Rod McCance returned to Scotland several years ago, now living in the former home of his great uncle, William McCance, the renowned Scottish artist. Originally having studied art, Rod diversified into engineering for a period before reverting to painting. Latterly, he lived in Corfu for a time, establishing a successful studio and gallery.

He still produces his vibrant, distinctive oils in his studio in Girvan, has work hanging in both public and private collections all over the world, and was a demonstrator for Winsor & Newton and Daler Rowney.

 

Sandi Clelland mainly focuses on painting and drawing and uses a variety of mediums from oils and acrylics to graphite.   She is inspired by the ever changing  sea and  skies, the movement of still waters and the power of crashing waves.   Coastal themes run through most of artwork. 

 Sandi has only been exhibiting her work in the last few years and although having studied Art and Design, it was only after having a Brain Haemorrhage that she turned to Art as part of her recovery.   Overcoming the challenges of re-learning old skills as well as discovering new. 

Janet Laurie makes contemporary handcrafted silver jewellery .

She specialises in Silver and Semi-precious stones with a focus on texture and free flowing designs. She takes inspiration from just about everything around her; changing landscapes , fossils , agates , natural objects . She feels good ideas result from experimental work motivated by the pleasure of designing jewellery. Each piece of her jewellery is handcrafted so most of her designs are unique. 

She started learning silversmithing about 19 years ago by attending evening classes at Ayr , Cardonald and North Glasgow College .She has also attended weekend courses at Brazen Studios and Vanilla Ink Studios in Glasgow. “I love learning new and traditional techniques and to experiment with silver .

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