Marion MacPhee

Marion MacPhee's singular studies of whales and coastal landscapes are the product of expressive draughtsmanship. Working across etching and monotype, she creates stark images that draw the viewer into personal contemplation of their relationship to the natural world. The inspiration for her practice is mostly drawn from travels to isolated and remote coastal environments. In particular she's drawn to the islands of the North West of Scotland and Ireland where there is a raw energy and history bound into the fabric of these areas.

MacPhee was born and brought up on the Isle of Skye which retains a strong influence over her work today. Her process begins with initial sketches and photography taken on-site to be used as reference back at the studio, but these are intended to spur exploration of essence and atmosphere of place as opposed to exact replication.  In the development of images through the printing processes, uncertainty of outcome is always a factor and underpins the continuous development of her practice.

MacPhee has exhibited widely and shown at national and international art fairs. In 2019 she was invited by Barbara Rae RA to exhibit at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Other recent group exhibitions include RSA Annual Exhibition, Scottish Landscape Awards and the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2023.

MacPhee was born in 1979 and graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2001 with a BA in Visual Communication. She is currently living in Glasgow and is a member of Glasgow Print Studio.

"Several of the exhibited monotypes are from a series of new works inspired by a trip to County Mayo, Ireland, in August 2023, where I completed a monotype course taught by Ron Pokrasso at Ballinglen Art's Centre, Mayo, generously funded by The Provost James Rae Trust.

I was very inspired by the wild, unforgiving landscapes, changing skies and the force of the Atlantic ocean. I also found local mythological stories and customs of great interest. Touring the area I discovered magical, remote places which have stayed with me. The particular feeling is hard to describe, but I feel compelled to re-create them. Specifically, Belmullet I and II were inspired by a place called 'Aghernagallach' which is the closest point to America.

Alongside the Irish works, The Outer Hebrides in Scotland are a significant place for me. Luskentyre Beach in Harris and the Uist islands are recurring subject matters. North Uist VII is one of a series of recent large-scale monotypes inspired from a series of trips made after lockdown to the Outer Hebrides.

I enjoy the gestural, fluid process of creating a monotype. I often spend the best part of a day creating the image in one sitting, often discarding many attempts in the process. In some sense you have to abandon all control, and that's where things start to happen."