A Tale of The Tolbooth

Tolbooth Stirling in association with Creative Scotland, and Scene Stirling commissioned five Visual Artists to each create a piece of work, to be exhibited in a group show at Tolbooth Gallery.

Titled ‘A Tale Of Tolbooth’, the exhibition launched on 18th June 2021 and showed the Tolbooth through the ages, taking inspiration from the buildings varied past and exciting present.  Each of the artists created a bespoke piece as their response to the Tolbooth’s unique history and current place in Stirling’s vibrant arts scene.

The exhibition was sound tracked by a bespoke musical score created by Duncan Lyall, providing a unique multisensory experience.

Meet the artists Involved:

Alice Campbell:

How/why did you become an artist? Art was always around me when I was growing up, my Mum is an artist, and my parents would take me to galleries a lot when I was young. It was my favourite subject at school so going to art college and then deciding to commit to painting full time has all felt very natural for me – I can’t really imagine doing anything else!
2. What media do you work with? I’m primarily a painter and usually work in oils but I also enjoy printmaking. I recently bought an etching press so I have been learning the etching process during lockdown. I’ve never been taught how to do it, so it’s been fascinating to learn the process.
3. What was it about this project that made you apply for the commission? I often paint musicians so when I first read about the ‘A Tale of Tolbooth’ commission it felt very appropriate to my work. I really loved how open the brief was and I felt I was able to have a very personal response to it. I’ve missed live music so much during lockdown so this commission felt like the perfect way to celebrate the Scottish live music scene, whilst also investigating into Tolbooth’s fascinating past.
4. What are you particularly looking forward to in regards the ‘A Tale of Tolbooth’ group exhibition? I can’t wait to see everyone else’s take on ‘A Tale of Tolbooth’, it will be so interesting to see how other people have responded to the brief. It will also be fantastic to have an exhibition in person opposed to online!
5. Where can the public see more of your work (Any future exhibitions, or you website etc.?) I am represented by the Castlegate House Gallery, based in Cumbria, and I regularly show my work with them. You can also see my work on my website: www.alicecampbell.co.uk and on my Instagram: @alicecampbellart

Catherine Eckersall:

1.How/why did you become an artist? I studied Painting at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen. Since graduating in 2020, I’ve been continuing to make art. I enjoy the limitless expression making art affords
2.What media do you work with? The majority of my practice is painting, usually using oil paints but occasionally watercolors. I also do a lot of drawing within my practice, particularly with charcoal.
3. What was it about this project that made you apply for the commission? I was very excited to be involved with a local project, especially as the Tolbooth is so iconic to Stirling. The idea “A Tale of Tolbooth” appealed to me as I love stories and this seemed like a good opportunity to be involved in telling one.
4. What are you particularly looking forward to in regards the ” A Tale of Tolbooth” group exhibition? I am particularly looking forward to being able to see the exhibition in person! Also, I am very intrigued to see how the musical score works alongside the art pieces, as this is a new experience for me.
5. Where can the public see more of your work? My website is https://www.catherineeckersall.com/

Harry Kemp:

1.How/why did you become an artist?I’ve always been interested in art and photography from a young age. A few years ago, I started an Instagram page called ‘A_Crying_Shame’ to upload my artwork.
2.What media do you work with? I work with acrylic, oil and ink to create abstract people and faces, on canvas. I also take slow shutter speed, abstract photographs. In the Tolbooth project, I combine both of these mediums.
3. What was it about this project that made you apply for the commission? I have been involved with many tolbooth workshops, projects and gigs throughout my life. The Tolbooth has presented me with many opportunities and my experience has been nothing but positive and encouraging. I wanted to show my connection of the Tolbooth through my art. 4. What are you particularly looking forward to in regards the ‘A Tale of Tolbooth’ group exhibition? I’m looking forward to seeing everybody else’s artwork. We all sound like we do something different and unique, and I’m interested to see what everyone has been working on.
5. Where can the public see more of your work (Any future exhibitions, or you website etc..?) My Instagram page: @A_Crying_Shame and my Etsy page: HarryKempArt
Photo Credit: Tony-Jake Green Photography

Kirstie Young:

How/why did you become an artist? I don’t remember a time when I didn’t want to draw and paint all the time. Since I was a child it’s always been a huge passion of mine and it was my favourite subject at school. Once all my children had started school I decided to leave my career as a Nursery Manager and began studying Contemporary Art Practice at Forth Valley College, where  I  have grown in confidence and  completely fallen in love with Art again.    2. What media do you work with? I don’t really work with any one particular media. I love Sculpture, Printmaking, Digital Art as well as Painting. I really struggle to stick to just one and couldn’t pick a favourite.
3. What was it about this project that made you apply for the commission? I was born and grew up in Stirling and have always had a fascination with the top of the town and the history that surrounds it. When my lecturer sent me the link for this commission, I  did a little bit of research before applying and felt very inspired. I applied without really thinking I would be awarded it but I am extremely grateful that I was selected as it’s such a fantastic opportunity.
4. What are you particularly looking forward to in regards to the ‘A Tale of Tolbooth’ group exhibition? I am really looking forward to seeing the other artists’ work and to see their take on the brief. I am also very excited to see my work displayed alongside the other Artists.
5. Where can the public see more of your work (Any future exhibitions, or your website etc.?) I don’t have any exhibitions planned for the moment however if anyone wants to see more of my work I have my Facebook page –(2) K M Young Art | Facebook and my instagram page- K M Young Art (@kmyoungart) • Instagram photos and videos  

Fiona Black:

1. How/why did you become an artist? I’m not sure I’ve ever decided to become an artist. My life has been more of a need to continuously create. Whatever way I can, really! (whether through visual art, folk music, stories, theatre, poetry, cooking, dollhouse making, dressmaking, writing) 2. What media do you work with? I work mainly in linocut prints. It feels like I have found a medium that really works for me. After a life of always creating art, I’ve always found it hard to ever finish a piece, but with creating linocut prints, there is always a point at which you just can’t really cut out more, or layer to many more prints, and if it doesn’t work I just have to start again. The whole multi-stage process feels quite therapeutic.

3. What was it about this project that made you apply for the commission? I just loved the idea of an opportunity to combine my obsession with archive hunting, the history of Scottish women and creating lino. It is just a perfect mixture of things I love working on, with a wonderful reason to focus my research on one place and one area of Scottish women. 4. What are you particularly looking forward to in regards the ‘A Tale of Tolbooth’ group exhibition? I can’t wait to see all the art created for this and hear Duncan’s piece, and I’m thrilled and terrified to have my art shown along with others for the first time ever. It will be so exciting to see how each of us has connected with the Tolbooth through art. 5. Where can the public see more of your work (Any future exhibitions, or you website etc.?) I’m don’t have any other exhibitions in the diary yet, but hopefully will have soon! My website is – www.fiona-black.com, (I’m slowly getting a wee bit better at all the website bits and socials bits!) instagram – @fiona.k.black, twitter- @fionakblack and I sell some of my prints from Etsy- www.etsy.com/shop/highlandwandererart\  My current obsession/project is creating a series of linocut prints of Scottish Women from history, this exhibition has given me the opportunity to add to that never-ending list! I have over 100 ideas of prints, but have reached just over 10 now, and hope to be able to continue working on the series.

Duncan Lyall:

Musician | Producer | Composer

Duncan is the bass player for English folk singer Kate Rusby, keyboard player for Scots singer Lori Watson, a member of the Scottish classical/jazz/folk crossover GRIT Orchestra, a member of the folk-funk pioneering Croft No. Five, and performs regularly with Jarlath Henderson, and Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton. He was also one of the founding members and driving forces behind Scottish folk supergroup Treacherous Orchestra.

Regular invitations to work with an array of world renowned musicians have seen career highlights which include performing and recording with film composer Craig Armstrong, touring the UK with Mary Chapin Carpenter, conductor/arranger Vince Mendoza and legendary drummer Peter Erskine, performing with Guy Garvey at the Radio 2 Folk Awards, touring the UK with Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble, and performing and recording with bluegrass stars Ron Block (Alison Krauss & Union Station), Aoife O’Donovan (Crooked Still) and Sarah Jarosz (I’m With Her)