BIO
Career Summary
2022 Culture Collective project for Creative Scotland, Exploring island colour with Jon Macleod
2021 July - January 2022 Artist in residence, Tobar an Dualchais and ATLAS arts
2020 – 2022 – Artist residency in the community. Bord na Ghaidhlig (Year of Coasts and Waters) the outcome of which can be seen at www.ealainaite.com
2020 – commissioned to take part in An Lanntair’s ‘Ainm Aite’ Gaelic Placename Project, for Borve, High Borve and Mealbost.
2019 – present - Teaching Art Practitioner for An Lanntair arts Centre, producing interpretation for Gallery Packs, teaching an adult education courses (including creative journaling, Gaelic Month and as part of their Dark Skies Festivals).
2019 Sessional artist for Comunn nan Gàidhlig in Ard Sgoil MhicNeacail, Gaelic unit.
2018 July - Sessional arts educator for Ceòlas (Eriskay and South Uist)
2018 -2021 Masters in Learning and Teaching (Gaelic Arts), Royal Conservatoire Scotland
2017-2018 - Specialist grower for Pyrus Botanicals (Botanical Installation Artists)
2013- 2018 - Development Officer for Scotland, Royal Horticultural Society (Community
Outreach team)
2007 - 2010 John Hope Gateway Exhibitions Curator, Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh
2005 -2007 Research Horticulturist in Indoor Living Collections at Royal
Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
2004-2005 - Studied HNC in Horticulture with Plantsmanship (Scottish Agricultural College
(now SRUC) and RBGE)
2000-2004 - Studied Honours degree in Sculpture (B/A Hons) at Edinburgh College of Art.
Visual Arts Milestones
2019 ‘Critic’s Choice’ award winner (first place) Grinneas nan Eilean exhibition with Piobaireachd Cruibaige sculptures
2018 Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award funding awarded from Creative Scotland for a period of research and development towards a body of new work
2016 Specialist exhibition display opens as part of Bombay Sapphire visitor centre, Laverstoke, England
2015 Private commission of artworks for Tickton Grange Hotel
2012 March Feature Artist of the month, www.artplantaetoday.com
2011 January-April Exhibited alongside Andy Goldsworthy in Peter Potter Gallery,
Haddington, East Lothian.
2010 July – September Solo exhibition as part of Edinburgh Art Festival ‘ Natura
sensus ’ at Atticsalt Gallery, Edinburgh.
2010 Commissioned to produce permanent exhibition diorama of preserved plant
specimens for Glenmore Visitor Centre, Highlands.
2010 February - April Solo exhibition ‘ Locus imperialis ’ at Cameo Cinema Bar,
2009 October Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh opens the new visitor centre ‘The
John Hope Gateway’ with three exhibition spaces curated by Mairi Gillies.
2008 March Solo exhibition ‘ Biomimetic spectra’ at Atticsalt Gallery, Edinburgh
2005 Exhibited as part of ‘Sense of Place’ at Nottdance, Nottingham Festival
2004 July – August Exhibited as part of ‘Fire and Brimstone’ at The Embassy Gallery
2004 June Degree show, Edinburgh College of Art
2004 February Awarded RSA Adam Bruce Award for ‘ Spring Onion Colour Wheel ’
Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2002 November Exhibited in joint show at Roxy Art House, Edinburgh
Publications and interviews
‘Plant, Landscape, Nature: Artist, Horticulturist, Mother’ in PAN: Philosophy Activism Nature,
no.9 (2012), pages 55, 56.
http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=534122363321313;res=IELHSS
Art Plantae (2012)
Press
Review of solo show Biomimetic Spectra at Atticsalt Gallery, Edinburgh
"This gem of a show contrasts the urban setting of the gallery with art
which embraces nature, utilising flowers and feathers. There is much
more to this show than pretty flowers however. Throughout we see the
skill of the artist in her ability to take organic materials complementing and
contrasting them with the synthetic and the industrial...This is a wonderful
exhibition that makes excellent use of the internal gallery space and
causes the visitor to engage more fully with the environment outside.
Highly recommended."
The Skinny 6 March 2008
Review of artwork Formorgyn in the exhibition Fire and Brimstone at The Embassy Gallery, Edinburgh
"...but Mairi Gillies’ Formorgyn is most spectacular. A sculptural representation
of some eerie machine which siphons colouring from central test tubes and
into trapped flowers (or perhaps vice versa). It’s another astute comment on
science subjugated by nature and the deserved centrepiece of a fine show."
The Scotsman 13 July 2004