Mull’s An Tobar exhibits 30 local artists

Tobermory’s arts centre, An Tobar, is running a new exhibition of the work of no fewer than 30 artists from Mull, Iona and Erraid. It features over 80 pieces of work across a wide spectrum of media and is timed to support imaginative Christmas gift buying.

Sponsored by Tobermory’s renowned Island Bakery Organics, the exhibition has the added attraction of a £200 artist prize. The winner was selected and presented with the prize by John Johnson of Studio One and Paper Tiger in Edinburgh.

John’s background in teaching woodwork and craft, his involvement in many aspects of the art world in Scotland and his particular interest in crafts made him an ideal candidate to judge the work.  He has a long held love for the West Coast of Scotland and is particularly interested in the art and craft coming out of Mull.

His job wasn’t easy. The five shortlisted artists (shown above, left to right: Andy Fellowes, Matthew Reade, Andy Mortley, Tom Reade, Nick Holmes) were:

• Andy Fellowes (ironwork)
• Nick Holmes (photography)
• Andy Mortley (painting)
• and talented father and son, Matthew & Tom Reade (aged 16), who both work in wood.
  

Matthew Reade was awarded the overall prize for his piece entitled, Cobbles & Sugar Wrack, carved from Mull Ash. Mercifully the superior status of the father retained its distance for the emerging talent of his son – for the time being, anyway. Above is another exhibited carving by Matthew Reade – Small cobbles and Kelp.

The Exhibition runs until 31^st December 2009. It is open from Tuesdays – Saturdays and from 10.00am-4.00pm (Closed 25^th & 26^th December ). Admission is free.