Larbert man wins top prize in online art exhibition

John Inglis’s piece Noust: Safely Home was chosen from work submitted by artists from around the world for the £1000 prize at the Aberdeen Artists Society (AAS) exhibition.

The society, established in 1827, had planned to return to Aberdeen Art Gallery for the first time since 2014 for its ‘Coming Home’ exhibition, following a refurbishment.

The event had to be held remotely, however, due to the gallery’s enforced closure as a result of Covid-19.

But the forward-thinking group decided to counter this setback by using technology to host the long-established society’s inaugural online exhibition.

Reflecting on his win, John said: “It was really exciting and completely unexpected.

“Because it was an online exhibition, I wasn’t sure we would get awards this year but I was very pleased and I enjoyed that experience of being told I had won a prize.

“Nousts are prehistoric Viking hollows where boats were stored over winter. We go often to Orkney and the place we go has one of these

“I’ve not got a clue how long it took. I start something and it goes away for a few weeks. It’s a process.”

AAS president Dr Bruce Swanson said: “By continuing with an exhibition the society hopes to fulfil its aim of providing artists with an opportunity to make and show work for an audience in Aberdeen and beyond.

“I am delighted with the AAS team’s tremendous response to this crisis and I hope this exhibition of work online at this difficult time will be a positive experience for everyone.”

The society is an artist-led membership organisation which aims to raise awareness of contemporary visual arts in Aberdeen and throughout Scotland.

The exhibition can be accessed at www.aberdeenartistssociety.co.uk.

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