I was really pleased to catch three local entries to North East Open Studios (NEOS) 2015 yesterday. I would have liked to have had the time to visit more. The first stop was at “Sheepies ‘oo” where Sandra Rettie explained how she crafts fantastic sculptors from the wool of sheep! She also makes jewellery and a range of pictures. You can find Sandra at the Towers overlooking the Loch of Skene.

Next was a double dose of art from Heather Wood and Heather Maslen, both Westhill residents who teamed up for the NEOS event by sharing a display space also known as Heather Wood’s garage! I really enjoyed browsing through Heather W’s beautiful photography, paintings and life drawings. Her seasonal photographs have adorned the Westhill Bulletin front cover for many years of course. Heather Maslen specialises in fine art photography and had a mass of exhibits depicting some of her favourite haunts across Scotland.

NEOS 2015 runs until Monday 21st September. You can browse the directory here for locations and opening times.

DROP IN SESSION –  WE PAY YOU TO DEPOSIT IN THE WESTHILL MEMORY BANK!

Help create a MEMORY BANK FOR WESTHILL with artists, Anne Marquiss, Gabi Reith-Thompson & Philip Thompson

Date: 12 March 2014

Time: 1 pm – 7.30 pm

Venue:  Westhill LIbrary Westhill Drive Westhill  AB32 6FY

Simply come to Westhill Library on the 12th of March anytime between 1pm & 7.30pm and ‘DEPOSIT AN IDEA’, MEMORY or STORY about your life in Westhill into the Memory Bank and get paid in limited edition “Westhill Bills”, a fun & unique set of bank notes created for Westhill & the GLASSHOUSE contemporary art, craft & design fair.

At the drop in session you will be able to CREATE YOUR OWN UNIQUE Westhill Bill note with your portrait or design a unique ‘Westhill Penny’ from your drawings in the artwork!

Go on! Be a part of the picture!

 

www.bepartofthepicture.com

Artists Anne Marquiss, Gabi Reith-Thompson & Philip Thompson have been commissioned by Aberdeenshire Council’s Be Part of the Picture placemaking programme in partnership with SMART Consultants to deliver a community project within Westhill’s business and residential community.