Well worth the dough

Published on Wednesday 19 November 2008 19:04

IF YOU’RE an art enthusiast and looking for a bargain over the festive season, then it’s worth a trip to St Andrews. Tucked in behind Market Street, on Crails Lane, is an as-yet unmarked doorway that opens on to an Aladdin’s Cave of visual treats.

Captains of this cave are Jim and Margaret Carruthers, the retired owners of St Andrews Fine Art who, sadly, had to shut up shop six months ago. “We’d enjoyed running it but it was a huge commitment and we couldn’t keep it going,” says Jim, who refers to their upcoming exhibition as their swan-song.

The culmination of their 35 years in the business this exhibition will present work from some of Scotland’s finest artists, including pieces from Peter Howson, Pat Drouthwaite and Anne Redpath. The exhibition combines traditional works dating from the early 19th century with an impressive array of contemporary work, focusing on Scottish Colourists such as Donald McIntyre. The couple are keen emphasise the popular appeal of their collection. “We’ve never become an exclusive gallery,” says Margaret. “There really is something for everyone.”

Keeping this claim in mind and hoping to spy some Christmas bargains, I head down to The Old Bakery, the exhibition venue, to see what I can find. The owner of Fisher & Donaldson, Scotland’s finest bakers, bumped into Jim Carruthers this summer at a garden party and got chatting.

The Carruthers had been approached by The St Andrews Festival and asked if they would exhibit some of their collection but, due to the sale of their gallery, lacked a venue. Fisher & Donaldson offered their retired bakery, awaiting renovation into student flats.

Initially the space doesn’t look like much. It’s a cavernous factory with white tiled walls and water dripping from the ceiling, with cooker hoods and steel sinks lining the rooms. Fridges, still marked “cream cakes”, are dotted across the building.

The couple’s daughter, a BBC employee who, no doubt, is used to problem-solving, took one look at it and told them not to do it, but after a few moments of acclimatisation the magic of the space becomes apparent.

There is a powerful nostalgia to a building that holds such clear signs of a past life – the hooks and lockers used by the bakers, the rolling tables and pervasive smell of yeast. It is tempting to feel a little sad that this retired building is being used by a retired couple for a final exhibition, but one look at the vibrant works that line the walls and it becomes clear that it is, in fact, the combination of new and old that gives this place such atmosphere.

The Carruthers seem a little nervous – even apologetic – about their new surroundings. “This is so completely different to anything we are used to,” they say, but a gung-ho attitude overrides and, after a few “are we mad or are we mad?” comments, I realise they are besotted with the place.

Following a detailed tour of the building, Jim sets to explaining the collection; in his excitement, and lacking the tools of a gallery, he starts ripping at a packed painting with a hammer, and John Bellany’s Fisher Girl and the Sea is hurriedly uncovered, bubble-wrap flying about the place. Shortly afterwards Pat Douthwaite’s Talking Heads is hastily unwrapped. Both are strongly coloured works by iconic Scottish painters and worth several thousand pounds.

The presence of such big names of Scottish painting at this exhibition is not as serendipitous as it may seem. The Carruthers have built friendships with many of the featured artists over the past 30 years (“We’ve met most of them, we’ve had dinner with Alberto Morrocco – he reminded me of Picasso a little bit, he had these really sparkling eyes.”) Conversation about the featured works is peppered with such personal anecdotes; the art world was not work for the couple, but life.

Donald McIntyre, who has ten works in the show and is one of the most collected artists in Britain, walked into the couple’s shop 20 years ago. “He was there to buy some watercolours by an artist from the 1920s, he signed for the paintings and I recognised the name,” says Margaret. “‘You’re not the Donald McIntyre?’ I said, and he said yes. He was thrilled when we said we really liked his work and it all just grew from there; now we frequently go down to visit him in his studio in Wales.”

McIntyre’s works are among the best bargains in the show, as he is the only artist directly represented by the Carruthers, but his work does tend to sell out fast so you’ll have to get in quickly if you want to nab one of his Hopper-esque scenes of Edinburgh or Paris.

Pat Douthwaite is another favourite of the couple’s, and a good bet for a bargain. Douthwaite’s work uses pastels to create spider-like sketches; scratchy black lines form haunting portraits or rickety looking cars. The work is childlike and yet utterly captivating.

“She’s an outsider of the art establishment,” says Margaret, “but other artists absolutely adore her work.” More anecdotes flow – she’s so anti-establishment, they explain, that as a child, when playing drums, she’d stay a quarter beat behind the rest of the group because she couldn’t bear to be in time with them.

I’m also told of Douthwaite’s friendship with the Scottish colourist JD Fergusson and her obsession with Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly, which explains the portraits of women with wings for arms and goggles on their head.

From the thick and muscular oils of Glasgow tough boy Peter Howson, who is collected by Madonna and David Bowie, to the small, whimsical sketches of lesser-known artists that dot the room, the St Andrews Fine Art Fair will offer something to excite everyone.

The range is vast, with more than 300 canvasses on show, representing 150 years of Scottish Art. Prices range from several hundred pounds to several thousand, offering an opportunity for enthusiasts and dealers alike.

This Sunday, as the Old Bakery opens its creaky doors, Jim and Margaret will stand ready with mince pies and wine, excited by their new collection, the quality of which is utterly representative of their experience in the Scottish art world. The room will smell of incense and twinkle with Christmas lights, and what will lie among the baker’s tables and cream-cake fridges, is a veritable treasure trove of art bargains.

&#149 For more information on St Andrews Fine Art, visit the gallery website at www.st-andrewsfineart.co.uk. The gallery remains open until 27 January 2009.

XMAS SHOW 08

PEACOCK FINE ART, ABERDEEN 21 NOVEMBER UNTIL 20 DEC

Lots of pieces by students at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen and Duncan of Jordanstone in Dundee, and some established names too, including Joyce Cairns and Frances Walker. Gallery sources tell us a keen collector of Cairns's paintings often comes in early on opening night and snaps up the best stuff, so it might pay to get in there prompto. Prices from 10 to 1000.

&#149 Tel: [phone]

&#149 www.peacockvisualarts.com

PICASSO CERAMICS

WATERMILL GALLERY, ABERFELDY, UNTIL 10 JANUARY

IF YOU’RE after a plate or jug by the most famous artist of the 20th century, right, you’ll have to push the boat out to the tune of 2,500-4,950. Alternatively, you could spend substantially less and get something just as attractive by Sutherland-based ceramic artist Lotte Glob.

Also at the Watermill this winter: mysterious abstract oils by Orkney artist Peter Brown from 550 to 1,850.

&#149 Tel: [phone] or visit ||WEBSTART|| www.aberfeldywatermill.com

EXTREME ART

LOST GALLERY, NR BELLABEG, ABERDEENSHIRE, UNTIL 24 DECEMBER

A TRIP to the Lost Gallery at this time of year isn’t for the fainthearted: Peter and Jean Goodfellow often get snowed in. “If the weather’s dodgy it’s always best to give us a ring first,” says Peter. “I’ve got a 4x4, so I can pick people up at the end of the track.” In addition to Peter’s own epic land and seascapes, look out for elegant sculptures by Sandra Walle and Kenny Munro and photography by Craig Mackay. Prices range from 200 to 20,000.

&#149 Tel: [phone] or visit www.lostgallery.co.uk

WINTER COLLECTION

EDUARDO ALLESANDRO STUDIOS, DUNDEE, 28 NOVEMBER UNTIL 24 DECEMBER

THIS year, the Eduardo Allesandro Studios are concentrating on small works for 500 or less. Featured artists include Ian Johnstone, Francis Boag, Deborah Phillips and David Body.

&#149 Tel: [phone] or visit www.eastudios.com

CHRISTMAS 2008

KILMORACK GALLERY, Nr BEAULY, INVERNESS-SHIRE, 28 NOVEMBER UNTIL 24 DECEMBER

KILMORACK’S Christmas show Includes sculptures by Helen Denerley, below, (creator of the giant metal giraffes that stand guard outside Edinburgh’s Omni Centre), landscapes by Kirstie Cohen and Allan MacDonald and ceramics by Lotte Glob. Prices range from 400 to 6,000.

&#149 Tel: [phone] or visit www.kilmorack gallery.co.uk

CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION

FISHER GALLERY, PITTENWEEM, UNTIL 24 DECEMBER

PAINTINGS in the 300-1,000 range by Lynn McGregor, Sheila Mitchell, Claudia Massie, David Neilson and Jan Fisher.

&149 Tel: [phone] or visit www.fisher gallery.co.uk

MIXED CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION

CASTLE GALLERY, INVERNESS, UNTIL 24 DECEMBER

WELL over 100 artists here, showing everything from small decorative pieces to large-scale bronze sculptures. Ones to keep an eye out for include Linda Farquharson, whose handmade prints and books range from 85 to 175; Virginia Graham, who has ceramics on sale for between 8 and 140; and Jennifer MacKenzie,with oil paintings from 300 to 600.

&#149 Tel: [phone] or visit www.castlegallery.co.uk

MIXED CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION

KRANENBERG FINE ART, OBAN 28 NOVEMBER UNTIL 31 JANUARY

BROODING land and seascapes by David Hay, Rob Howard and Shazia Mahmood, pastoral scenes by Vega and ultra-precise still lifes by Trisha Hardwick. Prices range from 300 to 2,500.

&#149 Tel: [phone] or visit www.kranenburg-fowler.com

A WINTER FESTIVAL OF ORKNEY ARTISTS

PIER ARTS CENTRE, ORKNEY 22 NOVEMBER UNTIL 24 DECEMBER

THE Pier’s annual open exhibition features a huge range of work from more than 100 local artists and makers. Contributors include potters Andrew Appleby and John Struthers, painter Colin Johnston, printmaker Colin Kirkpatrick and photographer Rebecca Marr.

&#149 Tel: [phone]