GAYLE NELSON – Past President, Society of Scottish Artists

It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of Past President Gayle Nelson, artist, advocate, cherished colleague and friend.

During her tenure as President from 2013-2017, Gayle’s impact was transformational. Her leadership was marked by ambition and generosity in equal measure. She coordinated and supported a wide array of off-site SSA projects, from Ullapool and St Andrews to Minneapolis and Slovakia, always with a focus on reaching diverse audiences, and artistic excellence. Under her guidance, the SSA staged three bold and dynamic Annual Exhibitions at the Royal Scottish Academy, expanding the ways in which shows could be staged for the society and who they could reach. Gayle believed fervently in the power of art to engage, inspire, and challenge. Her curatorial projects include EMPIRE at WALL PROJECTS which exemplified this vision, offering a platform for difficult conversations and powerful creative expression. She worked tirelessly to ensure that artists from a range of backgrounds and practices were heard, seen, and supported. Gayle was also instrumental in establishing the Past Presidents’ Prize, awarded at the Annual Exhibition, and for bringing the PPSSAs together to share stories and tales of their own tenure, vital reminders of the history of the society.

As co-founder and Festival Director of Cupar Arts, Gayle oversaw the development of more than 150 ambitious projects, performances, and events, which helped put Cupar on the map. She had a rare talent for bringing people together, artists, audiences, funders and volunteers, always seeing the potential in what could be achieved collectively. She possessed a brilliant, practical mind, cutting through complexity with efficiency and clarity. She was a doer, a problem-solver, no matter the challenge. Her generosity of spirit created countless opportunities for artists, students, and collaborators across Scotland.

Closer to her heart, Gayle was a founding member and project manager of The Sunshine Kitchen, a social enterprise that empowers young adults with additional support needs through meaningful work and community engagement. As a lecturer in Supported Programmes at Fife College, she brought the same passion, empathy, and focus to her students, helping them grow in confidence, skills, and independence, which was underpinned by her own academic achievements, including an MSc in Autism from the University of Strathclyde and her BA (Hons) Fine Art from DJCAD/UOD. These speak to her dedication to both art and education.

Over the span of more than three decades, Gayle’s creative force touched lives both near and far. She brought insight, curiosity, and intelligence to her work with that rare combination of sharp focus and enthusiasm. She thrived in collaboration and relished the sharing of ideas, always working to connect people and elevate their work. Gayle was stoic, and never afraid to tackle difficult issues and somehow managed all of that with tremendous humour, kindness and warmth. 

She will be sorely missed. 

– Sharon Quigley PPSSA & Louise Ritchie PPSSA

You can view Gayle’s artwork on her SSA Profile Page.

Image: Gayle Nelson at Wall Projects exhibition (Empire, 2015).