Margaret Borthwick

Margaret Borthwick ‘s art practice over  the last  few years has been inspired by repeatedly walking in and exploring local landscapes both alone and with friends. She immerses herself in  environment over different seasons, weathers and times of day discovering cycles of change, sense of place, sounds and smells. Repeated visits enhance observation of micro and macro aspects of landscape and her work has evolved to encompass both.Every visit adds new images and inspirations and familiarity with the history of the landscape adds enjoyment 

Colours , patterns, light and textures are integral to the  work and memory and imagination are added to the baseline of sketches and reference photographs  to develop the finished work. Fungi, trees, foliage and branches inspire her and depicting micro and macro aspects and seeing them together  enhances the visual record.

Larger works are usually painted in  oils, sometimes mixed media.Recently she has also returned to watercolour especially to depict organic leaf patterns using negative painting techniques. The smaller micro aspect depictions of fungi and tree bark patterns are drawn in ink or produced with pen and wash. These may be grouped in arrangements of 2, 4  or 6 images.

Margaret Borthwick aims to take her viewers deeper into the landscape and it’s intangible beauty, enriching their sense of place.

I am just completing my Honours Painting Degree with the Open College of the Arts and have recently had a successful degree show at the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock. For the last three years my art has been inspired by the  landscape of local environments initially Glennifer Braes and  then  the woodlands and wetlands of Castle Semple Country Park and RSPB Lochwinnoch. I had known the latter areas superficially and walked alone, with my dogs and with friends and family. I looked at what was happening and changing over a period, in  different .weather conditions, seasons, times of day. I immersed myself in the sense of place-sight, sound and smell creating layers of memory and depth,. Collaborative walking enhances observation. knowledge and encouragement. Research into the history of the area feeds into my work.  I am particularly interested in trees and fungi especially the colours, shapes and patterns. I paint in oils occasionally acrylic ,draw in pan and wash on paper., monoprint using found materials. Exploring both micro and macro aspects of landscape enhances the visual record. I want to take my viewers deeper into the landscape and its intangible beauty enriching their sense of place