Viewing Room

Welcome to the Castle Gallery Viewing Room where you will find highlights from our current exhibition focussing on key works, inspirational ideas and telling the stories behind the show. 

DAVID BODY

6th - 28th May
'Mindscapes - From Reality to Abstraction'

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Black Isle Blackbird, acrylic on canvas, 45.5 x 55.5cm
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David Body was selected to take part in our carefully curated programme of solo exhibitions at the Castle Gallery by the Director, Denise Collins, as David had reached an interesting turning point in his career, moving from ceramics to painting. As he is local to Inverness, he was the ideal artist to kick-start the 2022 season with the gallery’s first show with a live exhibition preview since Covid began.
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Small Harbour, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 80cm
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‘Mindscapes: From Reality to Abstraction’ was the exhibition title chosen by David himself as it encapsulates his creative journey. He works from memories of places he has visited and experienced to create abstracted paintings with carefully considered angular compositions and strong colour combinations in a style which has been influenced by his early career as a graphic designer. 
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Crossroads, acrylic on canvas board, 30 x 30cm

The Highland landscape, and particularly that of Caithness, is David Body’s main source of inspiration. He moved to Caithness in 1977 to set up the Scarsferry Pottery with his wife Sally and subsequently moved to the John O’ Groats Pottery where his ceramics became highly collectable. Those who are familiar with the Caithness landscape will instantly recognise its distinctive elements in David’s paintings with images of croft house, harbours and sheep figuring prominently. ​

Coastal Houses, acrylic on paper, 15 x 15cm  -  Boats, acrylic on paper, 24 x 24cm  -  Grazing Sheep, acrylic on paper, 24 x 24cm

Red Roof House, acrylic with collage, 15 x 15cm

During the last two years David has been using collaged elements within his paintings to add new layers of meaning, using his own creative writing to evoke memories and experiences of the places he has visited. This can be seen in ‘Red Roof House’ with the visual presence of a seagull but also the remembered presence, in text, of ravens and crows in changing skies. Birch bark has been incorporated into this painting adding to the interplay between reality, memories and paint.

Birch and Owl, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 80cm

Grey Sky, acrylic on canvas board, 30 x 30cm 

View entire exhibition here