The Society of Scottish Artists

Recent Reviews

2010 Royal Scottish Academy
©Norman McBeath

Duncan Macmillan's review of the exhibition and a robust defence of the importance of the three Societies' place in Scottish Culture.

The Scotsman newspaper, 03 March 2010
[link to The Scotsman website]

'...the judicious selection has produced a slimmed down, highly professional hang of variety, depth and experience. '

Giles Sutherland, The Times 15th March 2010
read full review [click]

Photographs courtesy ©Norman McBeath

SSAVISION 2009
©Christopher Wood RSW

'...the pioneering spirit of the SSA continues in its readiness to support the work of emerging artists, and to embrace those working in a wide range of media.'
Susan Mansfield, The Scotsman
[link to The Scotsman website]

'...this is a cleanly hung, well-chosen show characterised by professionalism and integrity.'
Giles Sutherland, The Times Scotland Edition

2007 Royal Scottish Academy

The Scotsman Fri 23 Mar 2007
DUNCAN MACMILLAN
SSA CONTEMPORARY ART OPEN EXHIBITION ****

Under its new president, Elaine Shemilt, the SSA is more austere than the other two [Societies]. It also includes videos and installations, and has an open policy towards young artists, taking work from two graduates of each of the art schools. Perhaps it has the edge this year. There is certainly much to admire. The sculpture court is dominated by a march of mirrored penguins on a red carpet, each one a named celebrity, by Sandy Smith. Golden Age is a photograph of an installation by Hill Jephson Robb, a huge gold disk in the sand by the pier at Pittenweem. Missing you 1&2 is a pair of superb ink drawings like pieces of chainlink fence drawn freehand with a brush, by Tiina Leppänen. It is not all austere, however. Olivia Irvine's three romantic little panels, Historia d'Amor, have something of Watteau about them. Shannon Donovan's assemblage of tiny ceramics looks like kitsch gone mad, but the individual pieces are exquisite, and Eilidh Crumlish's Angus Altarpiece is a very decorative triptych rather in the style of Bonnard.

Recent Reviews
2010 Royal Scottish Academy Duncan Macmillan's review of the exhibition and a robust defence of the importance of the three Societies' place in Scottish Culture. The Scotsman newspaper, 03 March 2010 [link to The Scotsman website] '...the judicious selection has produced a slimmed down, highly professional hang of variety, depth and experience. ' Giles Sutherland, The Times 15th March 2010 read full review [click] Photographs courtesy ©Norman McBeath
SSAVISION 2009 '...the pioneering spirit of the SSA continues in its readiness to support the work of emerging artists, and to embrace those working in a wide range of media.' Susan Mansfield, The Scotsman [link to The Scotsman website] '...this is a cleanly hung, well-chosen show characterised by professionalism and integrity.' Giles Sutherland, The Times Scotland Edition
2007 Royal Scottish Academy The Scotsman Fri 23 Mar 2007 DUNCAN MACMILLAN SSA CONTEMPORARY ART OPEN EXHIBITION **** Under its new president, Elaine Shemilt, the SSA is more austere than the other two [Societies]. It also includes videos and installations, and has an open policy towards young artists, taking work from two graduates of each of the art schools. Perhaps it has the edge this year. There is certainly much to admire. The sculpture court is dominated by a march of mirrored penguins on a red carpet, each one a named celebrity, by Sandy Smith. Golden Age is a photograph of an installation by Hill Jephson Robb, a huge gold disk in the sand by the pier at Pittenweem. Missing you 1&2 is a pair of superb ink drawings like pieces of chainlink fence drawn freehand with a brush, by Tiina Leppänen. It is not all austere, however. Olivia Irvine's three romantic little panels, Historia d'Amor, have something of Watteau about them. Shannon Donovan's assemblage of tiny ceramics looks like kitsch gone mad, but the individual pieces are exquisite, and Eilidh Crumlish's Angus Altarpiece is a very decorative triptych rather in the style of Bonnard.