EVENT: CLARE MELINSKY: SANDSTONE & CIDER EXHIBITION LAUNCH

Sandstone & Cider  

Renowned lino cut artist Clare Melinsky’s latest exhibition highlights food and drink, with a twist of D&G

Sandstone & Cider runs from Tuesday February 3^rd until Saturday 7^th March at Thomas Tosh in Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, and features illustrations Clare has created for the food and drink industry.

“It just seems like a really appropriate theme given that 2015 has been designated Scotland’s Year of Food & Drink,” says Clare, who stays just outside Thornhill.

Clare’s distinctive lino cuts have featured on food products from artisan biscuit manufacturers to big companies such as Marks and Spencer, and major venues including Edinburgh and Stirling castles.

Clare's designs for Artisan Biscuits

One of her latest commissions is for a brand new Dumfriesshire cider using apples grown in Nithsdale. It’s called Steilhead and is brewed by Max Nowell, who is also well known for his sculpture.

Clare has designed labels for three different types of Steilhead cider: bullfinch, siskin and nuthatch.

Clare's cider label illustration 

The exhibition’s added Dumfries and Galloway theme comes from Clare’s lino cut prints commissioned by the museums in the region. 

"Castle and cottage, toolbooth and townhall are all here, mostly built of our handsome red sandstone," explains Clare. 

Clare's lino cut of the Robert Burns centre, Dumfries

The Sandstone & Cider exhibition launches with a special evening at Thomas Tosh on Tuesday 3^rd between 7pm-9pm with complimentary nibbles and drinks, and a chance to taste the new Steilhead cider. All are welcome. Admission is free.

Clare is also running workshops at Thomas Tosh, to coincide with the exhibition. Those taking part can learn the art of lino cut and develop their skills with the guidance of one of the UK’s most respected practitioners of the print-based art.

Paul O’Keeffe, partner at Thomas Tosh, said:

“It’s great to have Clare brightening up February with her new exhibition. Her work’s character shines through wherever it’s used.

And Scotland’s Food and Drink Year, and her new cider commission, gave us an opportunity to focus on a growing area of Clare’s work. Her illustrations are important in helping food companies demonstrate their difference from the rest.”

Events: CLARE MELINSKY LINO CUT WORKSHOPS FEBRUARY 2015

Clare's poster for the workshops

Clare Melinsky will be holding her popular lino cut workshops at Tosh every Saturday in February 2015.

Not only do you get to learn or develop your skills in lino cut printmaking, you also get refreshments and lunch in our cafe.

The cost is £60 per person, with a maximum of six people in each workshop.

Have a look at how previous workshops went earlier this year.

To book a place: phone 01848 331 553 or email info@thomastosh.com.

And we're excited to announce that Clare will also be holding a new exhibition at Thomas Tosh coinciding with her workshops.

More details on that coming soon.

EVENT: MINETTE BELL MACDONALD EXHIBITION

Our first exhibition of 2014 launches today with work from Minette Bell Macdonald. Minette is pursuing new artistic directions too.

Minette uses watercolours and most recently has specialised in wildlife with her series of hares, birds and foxes. The usual high class of paintings of those subjects can be found in the exhibition, plus the odd barn-yard pig.

Minette’s new dimension is her depiction of flora that can often be overlooked: our region’s hedgerows and the foliage of its beautiful trees.

Minette explains:

“My inspiration came when walking and absorbing the colours and shapes of the leaves around me. I started by doing very detailed studies of hedgerows and then began to take out a lot of the detail and just concentrate on the colours and shapes of the leaves. “

She continues:

“It’s all about looking and seeing how beautiful nature is, and how we seem to miss so much.”

A graduate of Carlisle College of Art, Minette is a regular exhibitor at the Anthony Woodd Gallery in Edinburgh, and her most recent Dumfries exhibit was at the Yellow Door gallery in Dumfries. She has had very successful previous exhibitions at Thomas Tosh.

All pictures on display at Thomas Tosh are for sale. The exhibition runs until Saturday 26th April 2014.

Leaves

Hedgerow

Pig

Event Report: Clare Melinsky workshops

Clare Melinsky had a very successful run of Saturday linocut workshops throughout February. Clare sends her thanks to all those who attended. "Everyone liked Tosh as the setting for the workshops and the lunch and refreshments are a big part of that," Clare noted. "Everybody produced such a lot of lovely work in such a short time as well, " she said. Thomas Tosh hopes to welcome Clare back next year for a series of workshops. We'll let you know dates as and when.

Fast action on the roller:( photos courtesy of Ronald Turnbull)

Clare (left) enjoys some banter

Linocuts drying 

A commanding setting for a workshop

EVENT SELL OUT: CLARE MELINSKY WORKSHOPS | FEBRUARY

Clare oversees one of her previous Tosh workshops

All the places for Clare Melinsky's workshops in February have now been booked. But to be put on the reserve list, call us on 01848 331 553. Looking forward to seeing all those who have booked on each Saturday in February.

FESTIVE LUNCHING AT TOSH

Here it is in time for those pre-Christmas get togethers: our set festive lunch. We are also doing our normal lunch time service with all you favourites. If you would like to book a festive lunch ring us on 01848 331 553, or just pop in.  And of course, we cater for special dietary needs.

EVENT: WINTER EXHIBITION | SILVANA MCLEAN

Meltwater: One of Silvana's works on display now

Silvana McLean is one of the trio of local artists exhibiting at our Winter Exhibition, joining Victor Henderson and Fiona Allardyce-Lewis. 
This is Silvana's second appearance in our gallery this year.  She was central to our Life’s a Beach exhibition in the summer, part of our move to quarterly themes that the cafe and shop get involved with as well.  That was a visual treat, so it’s great to have Silvana in our Winter Exhibition too.

Silvana transports you across seas, to Northern glaciers, wintery woods, and beautiful coasts. Her use of mixed media and boxed frames means that every work is a story in itself.

Our Winter Exhibition is on now. 

EVENT: WINTER EXHIBITION | FIONA ALLARDYCE-LEWIS

Fiona Allardyce-Lewis with the original of Burns Supper : prints of this work are now available at Tosh

This year a trio of local artists are exhibiting with us for the annual Thomas Tosh Winter Exhibition. They are Fiona Allardyce-Lewis, Silvana McLean and Victor Henderson.

Fiona was the first artist to exhibit at Tosh when we launched in 2008. Humorous depictions of feasting and enjoyment are central to her work.

Fiona is launching her new range of limited edition prints exclusively in Dumfriesshire with us. And she has also created a new range of cards which are great for that special occasion.  While you are enjoying her work, Burns Supper, try and find a famous dog. Hint: he's had a recent nose job.

Also scattered around Tosh are limited edition screen prints featuring DC Thomson favourites Oor Wullie and the stars of the 75 year old Beano:  Dennis the Menace and, another famous dog, Gnasher. Our Winter Exhibition is on now. 

Mary Bromilow Book Launch

Alexa Rutherford's cover illustration

Mary Bromilow will be launching her new book Nan's Rabbit tomorrow at Tosh (Saturday 27th April) from 10.30am-12.30pm. She will be joined by Alexa Rutherford, who has illustrated this story for children.

Mary doesn't shy from the often tough realities of young life on a farm. She says:

"The tale is largely autobiographical, and I remember the day and the experiences very clearly.

The story is for any child who loves animals, and who can find it hard to come to terms with the apparent cruelty of nature and the seemingly hard hearted attitudes of adults."

Don't worry, despite reality rearing its head, this rabbit tale has a happy ending. This is Mary's second book launch at Tosh.  Her previous, the factual The Clydesdale about that horse breed,  was a great success. So good luck to Mary and Alexa on another winning streak with their children's story. Paul

Clare Melinsky Workshops this November

Clare's linocut poster for her workshops

Clare Melinsky is running more of her popular lino cut one-day workshops this November at Thomas Tosh.

Clare will help you design your own work of art, from greetings card designs to special prints you can take home. 

Learn great skills from this respected print maker whose illustrations have graced Royal Mail stamps, Shakespeare and Harry Potter editions, adverts and labels, and newspaper columns. The November  workshops take place on Saturday 3rd, Friday 9th and Saturday 10th, and Monday 19th. Beginners and returning students are welcome; minimum age 16; only six students per session. 

Clare also notes that by attending more than one workshop, you will be able to build on previous work and skills to create more elaborate prints. This might work particularly well for people who choose to attend both the November 9th and 10th workshops.

Each session costs £50 including lunch in our cafe, and morning and afternoon refreshments. Ring 01848 331 553 to book a place. Or email: info@thomastosh.com

Clare is also running workshops in February 2013. The dates are: Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd, Saturday 9th, Tuesday 12th. Booking is now open for those sessions too.

Emma Gray's exhibition flies in

A Plane Perspective from Emma Gray

Our latest exhibition gives a martial twist to the tradition of the Dumfries and Galloway landscape. Slade School of Art graduate Emma Gray has spent the last year scanning the sky over Thornhill and our surrounding areas for low flying military aircraft. 

Emma's distinctive landscapes always stand out, but they've an added dimension with the mechanical might of the RAF. 

The exhibition launches this coming Saturday (8th September), from 10am. Emma will be at Tosh to chat to customers about her new work. You are very welcome. Entry is free and the exhibition runs until 3rd October. Click here to find out more

To Morocco exhibition launch tonight

It's the opening tonight (Friday 3rd August) at 7pm of To Morocco and the Atlas. This is an exhibition two years in the making by artists Jan Coventry and Lewis Waugh. They've followed in the footsteps of Victorian explorer and local hero Joseph Thomson who explored the High Atlas way back in 1888.

This isn't an exhibition stuck in the past. Jan and Lewis's vibrant and colourful works are great contemporary takes on the stunning and often overwhelming  Atlas that Thomson first found 124 years ago.

The married couple's pieces are stylistically very different, but really complement each other. This is a great exhibition that shows passion, love of adventure, and great artistry. It is wonderful to have it here for the height of summer. If you are around Thornhill, it would be lovely to see you. Entry is free.

written by Paul O'Keeffe