Visitors to Café Botanics at the Inverness Botanic Gardens will spot a few familiar scenes adorning the walls over the coming weeks. A new exhibition of artworks at the popular city attraction are all inspired by the venue itself – a case of art imitating life!
Titled ‘Viridian’ – which refers to a rich shade of green much loved by painters and a fitting tribute to the verdant richness of the gardens – is a new exhibition by a group of seven friends from the local area.Clare Blois, Margaret Cowie, Margaret McKay, Elizabeth Joss, Frances Baxter, Avril Marr and Jane Weston originally met through a common interest in painting and are all members of the Redcastle Art Group and supporters of the Art Society of Inverness.
Clare Blois said: “We have all enjoyed Inverness Botanic Gardens over many decades as a great place for a peaceful interlude in lovely surroundings. We have fond memories of meeting friends at the Floral Hall or bringing our kids to see the fish after a stressful swimming expedition! We have loved seeing the gardens expand and develop and have frequently visited to do some sketching together. We are delighted to be showing garden-themed paintings here in the current exhibition.”
‘Viridian’ works will be on show and for sale until the end of October before group member Margaret Cowie opens her solo exhibition in Café Botanics, which will run during November and December.
Pamela Sutherland, Head Gardener at the Inverness Botanic Gardens commented: “High Life Highland’s Botanic Gardens are always a place of colour and beauty and continually provide artists with lots of inspiration. So, it’s wonderful to have ‘Viridian’ here at Café Botanics for all our visitors to enjoy – it lets them view the gardens through another lense.”
Café Botanics receives a commission on all exhibiting artworks sold, which helps support the upkeep of the gardens.
