Aileen's Bio

I started out in watercolour and now work mostly, on paper, in acrylic, pencil, ink and charcoal with occasional forays into oils and pigments. My printmaking includes traditional etching, photopolymer gravures, collagraphs, linocuts and monotypes. Occasionally I mix these techniques together.

I like to explore new ideas and expressive ways of depicting landscapes. Here, in Wester Ross, I feel in tune with the changing moods and colours of the landscape. I am drawn to scenes that can be interpreted as metaphors for climate change - the fragile beauty of a wind-battered tree, the glimpse of light on a distant hill, sea ponds on the shore and dying forests.

I live in Lochcarron (Wester Ross) where I have a small studio. I moved here from Edinburgh in 2015 and still keep up with many friends and contacts in Edinburgh. Member of Edinburgh Printmakers, Visual Arts Scotland and the Society of Scottish Artists. A member of The Bridge Art Collective (local group of artists), and jointly run local events through Lochcarron Arts.

Exhibitions

Selected Exhibitions

RSA Spring Open Exhibition April 2009
Scottish Drawing Competition Biennial Exhibitions 2009 and 2011
RSW Open Exhibition February 2012
Edinburgh Macmillan Annual Art Exhibition 2013-18
Visual Arts Scotland Annual Open in 2016 - both exhibitions 'Converge' and 'Fly'
Aberdeen Artists Society Open - April 2022
Society of Scottish Artists Annual Open (130 Years) - Dec 22

Mixed Exhibitions

Lemond Gallery Big Xmas Show, Dec 2020
3 Harbours Arts Festival - Open Houses in Cockenzie ,East Lothian, 2009 - 2013
'Viva Venezia' Birch Tree Gallery, Edinburgh, October 2017
'3 x 5' Birch Tree Gallery, Edinburgh, October 2018
Printmakers Exhibition at the Flat Cat Gallery, Lauder, Mar/April 2019
No Woman Is An Island at the Birch Tree Gallery, Edinburgh 2020 and 2023

Solo/Joint Exhibitions

Three Lochcarron Artists at Gallery An Talla Dearg, Eilean Iarmain, Isle Ornsay, Sleat, Skye in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Café Montagu, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, July 2010
Penicuik Arts Centre, September 2010
'No Woman Is An Island' - Annual exhibition of work by Aileen Grant and Rona MacLean in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Featured Artist at the Stick Factory, Edinburgh in Winter 2015/16
Various exhibitions of The Bridge Art Collective, including The Lemond Gallery, Bearsden, Glasgow, March 2020.

Galleries

Ran Lochcarron Gallery with two partners 2016-2018. Regular exhibitor at Gallery 48 (Cromarty), Torridon Gallery, Bealach Gallery, Quay Gallery (Aberdour), Buy Design Gallery (Harestanes near Ancrum), and Dockside Gallery (Tweedmouth).

Background

Born and brought up in Fife. Went to Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee.

Worked as a town planner.

Leith School of Art courses in 2008/9/10/11, studying under Jacqueline Watt and Matt Storstein.