AIR SPACE
A JOINT EXHIBITION FEATURING WORKS BY EMMA DUNCAN AND SARAH KAY-WREN
SEE WHATS ON PAGE for more information
Emma Duncan –
Aerial landscapes and other work.
I studied painting at Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen, where I produced configurations of paintings, each looking at a different part, perspective or detail of a landscape. I was trying to escape the traditional one perspective approach to landscape painting and to capture a sense of the ‘whole’. This involved looking down at the earth and naturally led me on to painting aerial landscapes. I had always been astounded by the painterly and ‘abstract’ looking shapes and patterns seen from airplane windows and as a subject it was a fresh way to look at landscape, which unified my love of landscape and ‘abstraction’ within painting.
I have worked from old black and white aerial photography, satellite imagery and my own ‘mappings’ of land.
Implicit in my work are issues of land ownership, usage and energy production. I am especially interested in the relationship between natural and man-made landscape, borders and boundaries and the ‘traces’ left behind in landscape that show its’ ever-changing nature.
My work explores a diverse range of landscapes including forestry, coastal areas, golf courses and moorland across the UK, but focuses largely on Scottish landscapes.
I also enjoy painting abstract landscapes, portraits and making mosaics.
To find out more about my work or to get in touch please visit my website:
www.emmaduncanart.com
Sarah Kay Wren - Cromarty and the glens.
This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for me to exhibit alongside my friend and fellow artist Emma by combining our interests and passions for landscapes. My artworks on display depict much loved locations in Scotland including Glen Clova. The mixed media Cromarty artworks were created during a wonderful art residency in 2024. The Cromarty firth is still dominated by the decommissioned oil rigs. “A rig graveyard” and the new wind farm base. I decided to embrace the old structures in the sea for their monumentality in the evening light and extraordinary sunsets.
About me
I am a multimedia artist based in Edinburgh. I have worked in the community as both art practitioner and art tutor for over 20 years working with individuals and groups of all ages and abilities.
Between 2012 and 2022 I created and managed a social enterprise gallery in Morningside Edinburgh called Space Artworks. It was set up to support artists with additional support needs, to make and exhibit artwork. I now work in a shared studio in St Margarets House where I continue to develop my own practice and offer regular one to one sessions in art and applied art crafts.
I have an honors degree in Knitted textiles and an MSc in contemporary art theory. To allow me to focus on painting and drawing I attended a two year painting and drawing course Leith School of art in 2018.