THE ALLOWAY TUNNEL MURAL SIMPLY BLEW ME AWAY!
I have lived in Ayr for over 25 years and had heard a lot about the Alloway Railway Tunnel Mural, but I have only recently been to see it for myself. Wow! I was simply blown away by its scale, its storytelling and its magnificent vibrant colours. What an asset for Alloway, Ayr, Ayrshire and, indeed, for Scotland.
I used to walk through the Alloway Railway Tunnel when it was dingy, badly lit, littered with broken glass and covered in graffiti. The transformation is amazing, that once scary place is now clean, colourful and welcoming. I will certainly have to make many more visits before I can claim to have seen all that is there to be enjoyed. I absolutely loved the Tam O’Shanter scene -the vibrant blue colours of Tam, Meg and the Brig O’ Doon, were just amazing.
I have always had a keen interest in Art and studied Art at school, however I did not pursue art as a profession until later in my life. When I left school, I worked in retail, in banking and for about ten years I worked in Seafield Post Office. I retained an interest in art, but it was not until I visited Harris and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in 2013 that my passion for art was rekindled. The remote white sandy beaches, the swirls of turquoise and purple in the sea, the light, the vivid coastal colours and the incredible scenery really inspired me to start painting again and to pursue my dream of becoming a professional artist.
In 2014 I joined Open Studios Ayrshire, annual art trail event that encourages art lovers and collectors to visit artists in their studios. It was a bit daunting doing this for the first time but it was also very enjoyable. It enabled me to connect with other local artists and share my work with the community. This encouraged me to continue my journey as an artist.
In 2015, a fantastic opportunity arose when I collaborated with two fellow Ayrshire artists to establish The Coach House Gallery at Culzean Castle. This opened new doors and exposed me to the wide audience of people from all over the world who visit the Castle.
In October 2018, due to family commitments and circumstances I decided to leave the Coach House Gallery. I still think fondly of this special place and time in my life and I'll always be grateful for this experience, however it was now time to go it alone and establish my own studio.
The following years, particularly 2020 and 2021, were incredibly challenging due to the pandemic. The whole world was turned upside down. It was a very unsettling and frightening time for everyone. However, I was able to find solace in my art and I spent many hours in my studio getting lost in creating my own happy places.
Since 2022, I have taken part in the local art markets held at The Grain Exchange in Ayr, have submitted work to the Big Art Show in Paisley and Glasgow, have submitted work for sale to the Coast Gallery in Troon and have become involved with many local creative markets, including the Handmade in Ayr Market which is held at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and the Coastal Artisan Market at the Cutty Sark in Ayr. I also have a pop up studio in my home with viewings by appointment. Please get in touch if you would like to visit me in my studio and view my work. I welcome commissions and love working with individuals to paint something truly personal - a special place, a unique memory or a painting using favourite colours to compliment their home.
The Ayrshire coastline provides much of my inspiration. I live on the coast, between Ayr Beach and Greenan Castle. I look out directly over to Arran and see it in all seasons and all weather conditions.
When I travel down the coast, I marvel at the sight of Ailsa Craig rising straight out of the sea, the picturesque village of Dunure and the magnificent Culzean Castle. My work is a reflection of these landscapes and seascapes that surround me, everchanging skies, shifting tides, and the quiet beauty of the natural world. Each painting is created to capture not just a place but a feeling - whether its the calm of the sea, the energy of the sky, or a sense of quiet escape. In my work I love to create movement and life, whether it's the billowing clouds, the crashing waves, the swaying grass, or the delicate leaves and blossoms of flowers. I use layers of colour and texture to build depth and movement, allowing each piece to evolve naturally as it develops. When I paint a landscape, I immerse myself, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin and the wind on my face, seeing the gentle movement of flowers and grass and capturing the moment.
In the Tunnel Mural, Chris Rutterford has beautifully portrayed these same iconic Ayrshire scenes. We each have our own style and I found it fascinating to compare our interpretations of scenes which are familiar to both of us. Why don’t you pop down to the Tunnel and see the similarities and differences between Chris’s work and mine for yourself?
Susan Leishman
