EVENTS: MAY AT TOSH

From the Thornhill Music Festival gig on Friday 1st May, to Hugh McMillan on Thursday 28th May, and the return of Thornhill Arts Summer Competition: lots on at Tosh this May. More details here: http://www.thomastosh.com/events

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's mini residency at Tosh

Minette Bell Macdonald has been in Tosh today in a mini artist residency to complement her latest exhibition. And she's been concentrating on one of the most popular themes in the exhibition: oystercatchers. At the top is an image from the gallery exhibition. And below that, is Minette's latest work produced today from notes and preparations from winter visits to Mersehead and Calaverock reserves down on the Solway Firth.
Minette is with us tomorrow as well. So please don't hesitate to pop in and see her.

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.