Terrier and Rat, C Pelham
The Public Catalogue Foundation which worked with the BBC to photograph every oil painting in public collections in Britain has changed its name and website to become Art UK. As part of the re-branding process, the Smith’s outspoken Cat-in-Residence, Oswald C. Smith (@SmithSuperCat) gave an interview on works of art,
Edwardian Holidays in Stirling, James McDonald RSW
Today’s story is a holiday themed painting in the Stirling Smith collections by artist James McDonald RSW. Born in Stirling in 1956, James studied at Edinburgh College of Art, completing his post-graduate year there in 1979. Working initially in the field of printmaking (advanced intaglio techniques), since 1989 he has
Bridges between Imagination and Reality An exhibition of paintings by Peter Yates
This exhibition, from Stirling – born artist Peter Yates, is part retrospective and part new work. Some of the works have been inspired by wind farms. Although wind farms are Scotland’s fastest growing renewable energy technology and are prominent on the landscape in many parts of Scotland, few artists have
Freedom is Best, Joan Sommerville
This watercolour by Joan Somerville represents the followers of William Wallace awaiting the English army before the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. The Latin inscription beneath is the lesson taught to Wallace by his uncle, the Priest of Dunipace: Freedom is best, I tell thee true Of all things
Margaret Shirra and Son
We know little of the details of this mother and child portrait, which is in the Smith collections and is currently on show in the Stirling Heads Exhibition. Margaret Shirra (nee Low) was the wife of James Shirra (1812-1888), a Stirling draper. The portrait was painted by Stirling-born artist Sir
Dunblane Doll’s House, 1940
Shown here is a detail of the Nursery, one of the many rooms in the Dunblane Doll House. Each of the pieces is functional, as well as beautifully detailed. The Nursery has its own Doll’s House (on the left), a rocking horse which rocks, a bed, cot, and tea table.