Spey Bank Studio

11/06/2025

We crept around Angus Grant Art's studio to bring you a sneaky preview of some of the paintings that he'll be showing at our upcoming exhibition.

But we didn't want to spoil the surprise so we only took pictures of a few details. To see the full finished articles, you'll have to pop along to the opening on Friday evening, 6pm-9pm!

31/05/2025

We are gearing up for the start of our new summer exhibition – and this year there are two familiar faces showing their work.

Our very own Angus has been back at the easel and he’ll be hanging his work alongside that of Campbell Bryson, a favourite of our gallery.

Sunshine & Shadows is a reprise of the pair’s first collaborative exhibition – at Grantown Museum 14 years ago.

The event starts on Friday June 13 (don’t be superstitious!), with a preview event from 6pm to 9pm.

VisitCairngorms Discover Grantown

21/05/2025

⭐️⭐️ PAINTINGS OF THE WEEK ⭐️⭐️

These are just a selection of the paintings and photographs that gone to new homes in the past few weeks. We love looking back at what we've sold - there is such a range of styles and colours and media!

When we opened, we wanted to demonstrate the breadth of talent working in the area, and these images prove that.

Big thanks to all the artists who have put their faith (and their work) into us - your support is greatly appreciated. And thank you to all our customers too, it's lovely to chat with you and send you off with something colourful that you will enjoy every day.

19/05/2025

👋 You might have met her already in the studio but let us formally introduce you to Rebecca Rensner - our very first full-time employee!

Thanks to funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise's Technology Placement Programme, we have been able to take on Rebecca as our graduate production manager for a year. She will be involved in improving production processes at the company, focussing on ceramics.

This is a change of direction for Rebecca, who is a former pupil of Grantown Grammar School. She studied neuroscience at St Andrews University to Masters level and worked in the uni's labs. She also worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.

Angus said: “We are delighted to welcome Rebecca into our team and she has already started mastering some of the techniques that we use in the pottery. She provides a fresh perspective on our work and processes, as well as enthusiasm and problem-solving skills.”

Rebecca said: "I am excited to return to Grantown and explore my creative side again. I loved art at school, especially drawing people and I hope to use that skill in my work with the Spey Bank Studio. I have already started designing jewellery and creating illustrations for ceramics.

“My scientific background will also be invaluable as the studio seeks to streamline its production processes.”

Say hi to Rebecca when you're next in the studio!

14/05/2025

🦌 PAINTING OF THE WEEK 🦌

And it's time to welcome another new artist to the gallery.

This mighty stag is by Chris Sharp. A professional artist for more than 40 years, Chris's work reflects the Scottish landscape and the wildlife living there. He specialises in field sports and game fishing, in particular salmon fishing. His impressive attention to detail, factual representation and fine workmanship is based on his keen personal interest in all of that which he paints.

We are delighted to welcome Chris to our gallery and look forward to showing his work to you all.

07/05/2025

💙💙 CRAFT OF THE MONTH 💙💙

Did you know that our owner and resident tutor Angus Grant Art started his artistic career in jewellery?

His interest was piqued as a teenager after seeing bone carvings in New Zealand, particularly the work of Jim Timings. When he returned to Scotland, he started carving Celtic-inspired pendants from cow bone from Jackie Farquhar's butcher.

Angus went on to study jewellery design at university, spending a year teaching in India (and learning a bit of goldsmithing as well). After graduation, he worked as a production jeweller. He started his own business in the Highlands, making costume jewellery, including his distinctive collection utilising old bullet casings from Dulnain Bridge Rifle Club.

Now he's returned to jewellery-making, combining these skills with those in ceramic production. This new collection is made of porcelain, inspired by William Morris's intricate designs and sea pottery. Every piece is a bit different.

📸 Photographs by Cairn Media

05/05/2025

Today is the last day of Grantown Open Studios! 🥳

We're looking forward to another busy day chatting about art but we'd like to thank everyone who has popped in over the past few days. It's been lovely to see so many people enthused about the creative arts and our wee town 🥰 Thanks to all involved in organising the event - it's been great to be involved.

30/04/2025

🤎🤎 PAINTING OF THE WEEK 🤎🤎

It's the start of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, an annual extravaganza that celebrates Scotland's national drink. That means there's no better time to show you this new image from photographer John Austin.

You might have passed this distinctive distillery on your journeys along the A9 between Inverness and Perth. It's Dalwhinnie Distillery, the highest distillery in Scotland.

He mainly photographs local scenes and is inspired by the beautiful atmospheric conditions and the constantly variable light of the
Cairngorms National Park.

This work is typical of John's work. He uses long lens, aerial photography, and long exposures as he attempts to find unusual and unique angles on his subjects. It provides another other dimension to his love of hillwalking and cycling Scotland's wild places.

24/04/2025

Excited to be part of Grantown Open Studios!

18/04/2025

We love art featuring our local landscapes but this week, our younger visitors were involved in creating the Cairngorms in cardboard, thanks to a workshop with Robbie Synge and Cairngorms Connect.

Layers of card were used to map the contours of the mountains, while also making wee cutouts of some of the wildlife that live there. As you can see, birds were a particular favourite among the children.

Thanks to everyone who came along!

15/04/2025

Looking forward to seeing this project come online in the studio on Wednesday. Drop in to help us create the landscape!

Travel to Loch A’an using cardboard and your imagination this Easter holidays!

Drop in to create cardboard landscapes and creatures with us this Wednesday at the Spey Bank Studio in Grantown-on-Spey between 10am – 5pm.

And Thursday we’re at Caberfeidh Horizons Bookshop in Kingussie between 10am – 4:30pm.

Free and open to all ages and abilities! https://bit.ly/cardboard-contours

This project is funded by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

[Image Descriptions: Photo taken at the Cardboard Contours workshop at the Loch Garten Nature Centre. A little colourful cardboard Blue Throat sitting on top of a cardboard mountain with kids and craft supplies in the background.]