A Printmaker’s Paradise
This studio is a magnet for both established artists and budding beginners
WHAT started as a visual arts resource in 1986, set up by a group of Inverness art teachers, has evolved into a facility that stands alone in the Highlands and Islands.
The Highland Print Studio, on the city’s Bank Street, attracts users from across Scotland. Increasingly, it also has users from overseas who combine time in the studio with a holiday in the area.
“The studio was set up as an open-access workshop which anyone interested in art could use. This is still the case today,” says studio director Alison McMenemy.
“The founders rented the space, begged and borrowed equipment and started running classes. Eventually, as funding was secured, the organisation was able to employ staff.
“We have an annual programme of introductory classes for beginners and the people who come on them range from professional artists to people who haven’t done art since they were at school.
“Those classes are for adults, who can then go on to use the studio independently. We have an education and outreach programme, where activity ranges from taster sessions to large-scale projects lasting months or years. We have worked with schools and community groups across the Highlands.
“The youngest we work with are seven years old and the oldest are in their mid-80s.”
The community is at the heart of the studio’s ethos, and Alison and her team are particularly keen to open their doors to those who don’t currently participate in visual arts.
“Many people think that art is not for them, that it’s exclusive. Anyone should feel that they can get involved in visual art if they want to.
“In its simplest terms, it comes down to colour, shape, texture and composition. Printmaking is great for all of these, which is why it is so good for beginners. “There is untapped talent out there, and there’s a better chance of finding it if people feel they are able to participate. But more importantly, it’s about enjoyment. If you get that out of the process of printmaking, then that’s all it needs to be about.”
In addition to providing an open-access workshop, the