I was eight when she died, but I remember it vividly. Whenever I visited, I was told not to touch anything, for a curious child like me that was almost impossible. Her home wasn’t filled with priceless antiques, but it felt like a museum all the same. Every surface and space held something. It was quirky, cluttered, beautiful, and completely over the top. She used to tell my mum and gran that I was a “nosey bairn,” always wandering into rooms, opening drawers, peeking into cupboards.

Walking through Haddo House recently, I caught myself doing exactly the same thing. I was drifting from room to room, taking everything in and I could almost hear her laughing. Some things just don’t change.

We both loved the experience, and it surpassed our expectations. Today feels a little flat in comparison, which I think says a lot about how immersive and enjoyable it was. I kept notes throughout with advice from other artists, ideas for new work, and things I’d improve next time. This blog is really a reflection for my future self as much as anything else.

Marie Antoinette remained a controversial and often embarrassing figure in French history for many years following her execution. I’m glad that historical reappraisal, along with artists and designers reclaiming her image, has helped reposition her as a more nuanced and culturally significant figure.

I can have all the tools, tricks and techniques in the world, but if the emotional charge isn’t there, then there’s no story. Without a story, there’s no concept. Without that, there are no visual triggers like colour or composition.

Mark shared something that really stuck with me: he rarely draws from life. He keeps sketchbooks and draws from memory, and he doesn’t cut from printed sources like magazines or newspapers. Everything he uses, he makes. I recognise this instinct as I do something similar myself.

The galleries are one of only three venues in Fife where works from the Fife Collection are displayed, though the full collection is preserved in Glenrothes. Its ongoing relevance underscores the enduring impact of Nairn’s legacy and the importance of local galleries in sustaining artistic culture.

The concept for a new artwork often begins in an abstract way. It might stem from a theme, a composition I want to experiment with, a sentence that inspires me, a feeling I’m trying to express, or even a dream or moment of déjà vu.