Surface – Cat Coulson

Surface is an exhibition celebrating the rich detail, texture and pattern found in natural habitats. Exploring nature reserves and wild landscapes across Dumfries and Galloway, from peatland and heathland to forest and coastland, Catherine Coulson takes a closer look at the landscape from within the reserves, observing the elements which make up the unique aesthetic and character of each ecosystem, sketching, writing, photographing and collecting material for studio paintings. With time and throughout the seasons, a closeness and narrative of place is built up, her work seeks to capture the emotional quality such places generate in us, concentrating on colour and surface detail, creating paintings that look beyond visual representation to describe a closer experience.

Artists Statement

Catherine Coulson’s work considers our relationship with nature, in particular how we experience and respond to wild landscapes and biodiverse habitats. She is interested in the sense of calmness and curiosity that we often feel in nature and how such complex ecosystems, far from overwhelming us, can serve as places of reflection and emotional restoration.