A lovely opening evening

This is the scene that greeted me as I arrived at the Hirsel – delivering my sculpture to the White Fox Gallery – the gallery overlooks breathtaking views of the lake and woodlands.

The gallery nestles in a small cluster of buildings which make up the Hirsel Homestead Centre for Arts and Crafts in Coldstream (Scottish Borders).

It is an exciting time delivering sculpture to a gallery.  Pieces for the exhibition have taken months to make and now here they all are, gathered together in a clean, bright, spacious and new environment, set on their plinths, organised and displayed at their best.   I left them all in the capable hands of the gallery’s owner Virginie to make final preparations for the preview later in the week.  I went off to explore the Hirsel.

There are a series of walks around the Hirsel and Homestead and despite the onset of rain, I set off.  At the entrance to the Hirsel is a sculpture of Sir Alec Douglas-Home (one time Prime Minister and 14th Earl of Home – Lord Home of the Hirsel) surrounded by stone carvings and a commemorative stone lettered plaque.

I followed the path and fence round into the woodland – it was damp and lush – a small stream which fed into the lake created a dank boggy area in high contrast to the new fresh leaves just breaking through on the branches above.

Eventually it led round to the lake, which is surrounded by reeds creating a sort of golden border, a rustling, tall stemmed, feathery mass which was filled with birdlife and birdsounds and calls, some of which I didn’t recognise.  High pitched warbling, exotic burbling, deep cooing, shrill twittering.  I saw birds, flitting, and followed sounds, which stopped abruptly, then started again elsewhere, out of reach.

Newly pollarded willows stood lakeside – knobbly sentinel sculptures.

There is a vast walled garden with a row of bee hives, banks of bluebells and I think the largest tree I have ever seen.  I was overawed by its hugeness.  Some of its branches were held up with wires and chains.  Occasionally the view opened up to the imposing sight of the Hirsel.

Returning on preview night, the weather was warm and still, and the evening sun glowed.  Nibbles, refreshments, beautiful hosting and welcomes from Virginie and Stephen, introductions, talking, laughing, sunshine streams through the gallery windows making shadows on sculpture.  I did a little demonstration and some visitors took up the chisel and carved marks on stone.  Thanks to all who came, talked, listened, asked questions and said lovely things about my work, and I feel very proud to say that some pieces have found new homes.

As I left at the end of a happy, most enjoyable evening, I glanced back at the lake – glistening and being beautiful.

The exhibition of my stone sculpture runs until 31st May, 2015 at the White Fox Gallery, The Hirsel, Coldstream.