Claire Harkess | The Garden by The Scottish Gallery

claire harkess

The Garden

claire harkess

The Garden 3–26 MARCH 2022

Introduction Claire Harkess is an artist who has built a reputation for

brought the flora to the foreground while a butterfly or

making expeditions to far-off places in search of her wildlife

a tiny snail might be found in the detail. This close-up of

subjects – to The Galapagos Islands, the North and South

the familiar, natural world, so easily overlooked, has

Polar Regions, the forests and grasslands of Africa and

expanded her practice. Her work has a delicate, oriental

India, and the Australian Outback. The hard-won fruits

sensibility, suiting longer formats, and employing kintsugi

of her exploration have made for solo exhibition projects,

techniques, adding to the sense of fragility. The urban

punctuating her career. Her last exhibition with The Gallery

environment is a haven for biodiversity, alongside the

was an imaginative study of rewilding, acknowledging the

hedgerow, riverbank and wild place, and the artist’s micro-

work being undertaken all over the United Kingdom.

observation focuses on the here and now, the resilience

So, some may be surprised that her latest exhibition, The

of nature, while acknowledging that conservation is the

Garden, explores the thing that we most take for granted:

essential project – both locally and globally.

what’s right in front of us. The Garden is inspired by her own immediate surroundings in Perth and from a collection of

Christina Jansen

borrowed gardens. Claire has carefully and joyfully captured

The Scottish Gallery

the visitors: the birds, the squirrels, the badger, and has

The Garden The Garden comes from my own and borrowed gardens of

The rose, inescapably tied to the heart and loaded with

friends, neighbours and family. Being short of studio space,

symbolism, is simply a beautiful flower.

a good friend came to the rescue when she offered her garden

There is an intensity to painting this way: to focus without

chalet as a place to work in rural Perthshire where garden,

interruption, editing or intervention in almost one continuous

woodland and farmland meet. Arriving early spring 2021,

movement is like an exhale of breath. The Garden is a

it was bursting with blossom and birdsong. The sky seemed

celebration of the natural world found right on our doorstep.

extraordinarily bright, spring colours vivid, the chorus

They are joyful, hopefully uplifting works.

deafeningly loud. We seemed to be emerging from a long

I was remembering kintsugi while working on the large

winter. I love being taken by surprise (every year) by the

paintings, wondering if gold leaf could be applied. Kintsugi

season’s change, days getting longer, the ground stirring,

is a 500-year-old technique of restoring ceramics. The cracks

air warming. Simply being there was exhilarating.

are left visible, filled with lacquer and gold, and are seen as

I began my work as I usually do, watching for wildlife and

stronger and more beautiful than before. With every crack is a

birds. The usual garden birds, more wrens than I could count,

story speaking of resilience, recovery, sustainability, wellness,

treecreepers, a greater spotted woodpecker, yellowhammers,

and an acceptance of what will be. I think the freedom of paint

a barn owl, hare, roe deer, red squirrel… As I spent more time

and the precision of gold sit well together. The combination

there, pace slowed and shifted toward the plants. A very small,

lifts the work, adding to its story.

natural shift was emerging in my practice: from the flora occupying a background supporting role, to the emergence of

Claire Harkess

it as my main focus. My work is of the moment – alla prima – directly observed and completed in one sitting. Nothing re-arranged or picked. The flowers are chosen because they are there, in real time.

[1] October Notes from the Orchard, 2021 ink, collage and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 96 x 140 cm 6

[2] Rose and Dog Rose, 2021 watercolour, collage and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 33 x 39 cm 8

[3] Coal and Camellia, 2021 watercolour, collage and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 23 x 14 cm 9

[4] Black-eyed Susan, October II, 2021 watercolour and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 38 x 104 cm 10

[5] A Moment’s Pause, Treecreeper, 2021 watercolour and collage, 18 x 24 cm 12

[6] Coal Tit in Apple Tree, 2021 watercolour, collage and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 18 x 24 cm

[7] Treecreeper Quietly Climbing, 2021 watercolour and collage, 24 x 30 cm 13

[8] Japanese Anemone, My Father’s Garden, September, 2021 watercolour and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 69 x 138 cm 14

breathe in this moment breathe out alan spence

[9] Black-eyed Susan, October, 2021 watercolour, 38 x 102 cm 16

[10] The Hollyhock and the Snail, 2021 watercolour, 63 x 95 cm 18

[11] Tip of the Hollyhock, October, 2021 watercolour, 95 x 63 cm 19

[12] Autumn Hydrangea and Wren, 2021 watercolour, 45 x 88 cm 20

[13] Kintsugi Rose I, 2021 watercolour and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 11 x 15 cm 22

[14] From the Rose Garden, 2021 watercolour, collage and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 70 x 100 cm 23

[15] Bullfinch I, 2021 watercolour, 20 x 20 cm 24

[16] Bullfinch and Rosehips, 2021 watercolour, 22 x 15 cm

[17] Bullfinch II, 2021 watercolour, 20 x 20 cm

[18] Bullfinch III, 2021 watercolour, 20 x 20 cm 25

[19] Little Lost, a Budgie Outside my Window, 2020 watercolour, 26 x 38 cm 26

[20] Finch and Birthday Rose, 2020 watercolour, 19 x 27 cm 27

[21] The Buzz of Midsummer, 2021 watercolour, 63 x 95 cm 28

[22] Bursting Buds, Magnolia and Chaffinch, 2022 watercolour, 31 x 35 cm 30

[23] Spring Magnolia, 2022 watercolour, 32 x 33 cm 31

[24] Dog Rose in July, 2021 watercolour, 18 x 18 cm 32

[25] Summer Song, 2021 watercolour, 20 x 22 cm 33

A Blackbird Singing It seems wrong that out of this bird, Black, bold, a suggestion of dark Places about it, there yet should come Such rich music, as though the notes’ Ore were changed to a rare metal At one touch of that bright bill. You have heard it often, alone at your desk In a green April, your mind drawn Away from its work by sweet disturbance Of the mild evening outside your room. A slow singer, but loading each phrase With history’s overtones, love, joy And grief learned by his dark tribe In other orchards and passed on Instinctively as they are now, But fresh always with new tears. r.s. thomas

[26] Last Song Before Midnight, 2020 watercolour, 74 x 100 cm 34

[27] Hosta and Black-eyed Susan, October, 2021 watercolour and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 66 x 136 cm 36

[28] Dive, 2021 ink and watercolour, 30 x 45 cm 38

[29] Favourite Branch I, 2021 ink and watercolour, 30 x 45 cm 39

[30] Glimpse at the Riverbank, 2021 ink and watercolour, 30 x 21 cm 40

[31] Favourite Branch II, 2021 ink and watercolour, 30 x 45 cm 41

[32] Early Morning in March, 2021 watercolour, 30 x 35 cm 42

[33] Turk’s Turban, 2021 watercolour, 63 x 95 cm 43

[34] From the Hide, 2021 watercolour, 35 x 103 cm 44

[35] Perthshire Red, 2021 watercolour, 22 x 30 cm 46

[36] New Town Grey, 2021 ink and watercolour, 30 x 21 cm 47

[37] Wee Badger, 2021 ink, 10 x 10 cm 48

[38] Midsummer Evening, 2020 watercolour, 15 x 20 cm

[39] Evening Forage, 2020 watercolour, 12 x 21 cm 49

[40] Honeysuckle Shadow, November, 2021 watercolour, collage and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 32 x 38 cm 50

[41] October Rose, 2021 watercolour, collage and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 30 x 30 cm 51

From Magdalen Walks And all the woods are alive with the murmur and sound of Spring, and the rose bud breaks into pink on the climbing briar, And the crocus-bed is a quivering moon of fire Girdled round with the belt of an amethyst ring. oscar wilde

[42] Hot Afternoon in July, 2021 watercolour, 63 x 95 cm 52

[43] Garden Flock: Coal and Cone, 2020 watercolour, 10 x 7 cm 54

[44] Garden Flock: Blue, 2020 watercolour, 10 x 7 cm

[45] Garden Flock: Goldfinch I, 2020 watercolour, 7 x 10 cm

[46] Yellowhammer, 2021 watercolour, collage and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 31 x 40 cm

[47] Last Berry, Waxwing, 2021 watercolour, 13 x 14 cm 55

[48] Breeze, 2021 watercolour, 22 x 30 cm 56

[49] Visiting Coal, 2021 watercolour, 29 x 20 cm

[50] Listening for Woodpeckers, 2021 watercolour, collage and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 30 x 45 cm

[51] Goldfinch by the Feeder, 2021 ink and watercolour, 29 x 20 cm 57

God’s Garden The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God’s heart in a garden Than anywhere else on earth. dorothy frances gurney

[52] Cloudless on the Longest Day (Mrs T. H. Lowinsky Rhododendron), 2021 watercolour and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 69 x 138 cm 58

[53] Sway, Blue Tit in Reedbed I, 2021 ink and watercolour, 30 x 21 cm 60

[54] Bullrush Blues I, 2021 ink and watercolour, 45 x 30 cm

[55] Sway, Blue Tit in Reedbed II, 2021 ink and watercolour, 22 x 30 cm

[56] Sway, Blue Tit in Reedbed III, 2021 ink and watercolour, 30 x 21 cm 61

[57] Bullrush Blues III, 2021 ink and watercolour, 31 x 47 cm 62

[58] Bullrush Blues II, 2021 ink and watercolour, 30 x 45 cm

[59] Bullrush Blues IV, 2021 ink and watercolour, 31 x 47 cm 63

[60] A New Year, Jan 1st, 2022 watercolour, 70 x 105 cm 64

[61] Last of the Rowan Berries, 2021 watercolour, 56 x 76 cm 66

[62] Song from the Hedgerow, 2021 watercolour, 26 x 31 cm 67

[63] Autumn Evenings, 2021 watercolour, 56 x 76 cm 68

Claire Harkess 1988–93 2005

BA (hons) Fine Art, Glasgow School of Art Elected member RSW (Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour)

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2022 The Garden, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2020 Into the Wild, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh One Square Mile, Tatha Gallery, Newport 2019 A Parliament of Owls, Fotheringham Gallery, Bridge of Allan Wild Journeys, Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Perth 2018 A Wilder Place, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2016 High Arctic, The Strathearn Gallery, Crieff 2013 Indian Tigerlands, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2010 Queen’s Gallery, Dundee 2009 Worn Tracks, New Marks, Kenya, Strathearn Gallery, Crieff 2008 Galapagos, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2007 St Kilda, Plockton Gallery @ The Manse 2005 ‹Antarctica›, Strathearn Gallery, Crieff 1998, 2000, 05 Tolquhon Gallery, Aberdeenshire 1997, 2004 Maclaurin Art Gallery, Ayr 2003 Green Gallery, Aberfoyle 2000 Outback and Beyond, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh 1998 Edinburgh Zoo 1997 University of York Crosskeys, Perth

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS The Walter Scott Art Collection Perth Museum and Art Gallery, Perth and Kinross Council Royal Scottish Geographical Society The Dick Institute, East Ayrshire Council, Kilmarnock INVITED ARTIST 2014 David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year, Mall Galleries, London 2004 Dunkeld Cathedral Annual Exhibition Perthshire Art Association, Perth Museum and Art Gallery AWARDS/ COMPETITIONS 2017 Wildlife Artist of the Year, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation ‘The Artist’ magazine Award, DSWF 2014 RSW Summer Show: The Walter Scott Purchase Prize 2013 RSW Summer Show: The Fotheringham Gallery Award RSW Council Award 2011 Runner Up, Wildlife Artist of the Year, DSWF Wildlife in Action, DSWF 2010 Riverside Gallery Award, RSW 2006 SAC, Perth and Kinross Artists’ Award 2002 Windsor and Newton, RSW 1996 Arches Winter Painting Competition (wildlife) RESIDENCIES 1998

The Royal Zoological Society, Edinburgh

TEACHING 1999–2015 1998

Dollar Summer School Summer School, Edinburgh College of Art

TELEVISION 2002 1998 STUDY VISITS 2015 2014 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006, 07 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

2000

Landward, BBC: Art and Nature The Zoo, BBC: The Artist-in-Residence programme

Svalbard Greenland India Kenya The Galapagos Islands St Kitts, Nevis St Kilda Australian Outback Grenada, Tobago Antarctica + South Georgia Caribbean Islands: Dominica, Barbados, Trinidad, Cuba Mexico: migration of the Monarch Butterfly Letterewe Estate, Wester Ross: Commissioned paintings for book A Highland Deer Herd and Its Habitat pbl Red Lion Press, London Australia: three months travelling the Eastern and Central regions

Published by The Scottish Gallery to coincide with the exhibition CLAIRE HARKESS The Garden 3–26 March 2022 Exhibition can be viewed online at www.scottish-gallery.co.uk/claireharkess ISBN: 978-1-912900-49-7 Produced by The Scottish Gallery Designed by Kenneth Gray Photography by John McKenzie Printed by Pureprint Group

Claire Harkess has selected the following poems for reproduction. The poem on p34, A Blackbird Singing by R.S. Thomas (1913–2004), was published in Collected Poems (Orion Books, 2004). The poem on p52 is taken from Oscar Wilde’s (1854–1900) Magdalen Walks, which appeared in Poems (David Bogue, 1881). The poem on p58 is an excerpt from God’s Garden (London: Country Life, 1913) by Dorothy Frances Gurney (1858–1932). Special thanks to Professor Alan Spence for granting permission to print his haiku on p16, originally published in Morning Glory (Renaissance Press, 2010). Claire Harkess would like to thank Su Grierson for allowing generous access to her garden.

All rights reserved. No part of this catalogue may be reproduced in any form by print, photocopy or by any other means, without the permission of the copyright holders and of the publishers. All essays and picture notes copyright The Scottish Gallery.

Cover: Japanese Anemone, My Father’s Garden, September, 2021 (cat. 8) (detail); watercolour and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 69 x 138 cm Inside front cover: Last of the Rowan Berries, 2021 (cat. 61) (detail); watercolour, 56 x 76 cm Inside back cover: October Notes from the Orchard, 2021 (cat. 1) (detail); ink, collage and 23.5 carat gold leaf, 96 x 140 cm 76