Contemporary Artwork from Thurso High School, Caithness Horizons, Thurso, until 25 February 2012

THE COLOUR and sheer vivacity of this exhibition betrays the young years of those who have made the various pieces of work on show, but the confidence in composition and execution reveals a high degree of skill and talent, and is testament to the work of William Wallace and Stuart Webb, the two principal art teachers at Thurso High School, writes George Gunn.

Ranging from portraiture, still life, collage, masks and what I would call, for want of a better definition, soft sculpture, this exhibition literally runs around the walls of the very fine gallery at Caithness Horizons.

Portrait by Charlotte Gordon, Masks by S1 pupils

As you walk in the stark, beautiful and haunting self portrait in ink by Charlotte Gordon grabs the eye. What is striking about this work is the sheer space the artist leaves in the composition, which lends each line a greater significance. But this work is an island of restraint in a sea of movement. This is epitomised, ironically, by the “still life” series of pastels, of which the study of various fruit and veg and a red teapot by Sammi-Lea Mackenzie displays a sure eye with colour and form.

All the compositions in this series, which occupy an entire wall, are mature compositions, and all display a solid sense of positioning and a strong instinct for aesthetics. In other words, these artists know what looks good. They may be portraits of still objects but they all move and satisfy the eye by their brave definition and their sure use of colour.

There is also a striking collage by various hands of 20 4” x 6” panels which capture various aspects in crayon and paint of the Kylesku, Kessock, Dornoch and Cromarty bridges, and proves that, no matter the age of the artist, the primary function of all art is in providing a new way of seeing. This also applies to how art is seen, and a series of impish masks by S1 and S2 pupils dance in a garish line of off-primary colours; all pinks, azures and yellows: so the viewer is viewed.

Chloe Marks' Dunnet Bay series

Next to this theatrical and cubist reinterpretation of reality is Chloe Marks various studies of Dunnet Bay. Some of these small paintings in acrylic are more successful than others but the most accomplished is probably the most simple, and most deceptive, which is a small painting of Dunnet Beach with a crashing wave in the foreground and Dunnet Head and Dwarick Head in the background, and above them all is a perfectly captured Atlantic sky.

The contrasts in this work are what make it significant. The headlands may be still, but the light, the sky and the ocean are all moving. It may appear very matter of fact to the casual observer but it is extremely difficult to pull off as a painter and certainly one has to admire the execution here, as the artist is still in the 5^th year.

But this is they joy of this exhibition: none of the artists display any fear whatsoever. Where study and talent leave off, sheer exuberance takes over. This is a very busy exhibition and a sheer delight. The strong tradition of visual art in Caithness, one of its many cultural jewels, is shining bright and has a secure future if the work of these Thurso High School pupils is anything to go by.

Mask by Christie-Lee McInnes

This exhibition is the second of its kind and is planned to be an annual event. Go and see it. Forget the artists are technically children – for all artists in a way are children – and let the artwork bring colour to your eye, your heart.

© George Gunn, 2012

Links

• Caithness Horizons