Jim Dunbar - Lagavulin Distillery
As I rarely use photographs as references, I went to Islay to paint the distillery on site. Once on Islay, I made a few sketches initially to work out a suitable composition. The weather was bright and dry and the visibility was good. The result was a true recording of the shoreline that is very similar to the work I have been doing on the Angus coast for the past three years.
The title of the work - Lagavulin Outlook - is the direct reference to the distillery. The painting shows Lagavulin Bay onto which the distillery looks. It also shows Dunyvaig Castle, the stronghold of the Lord of the Isles where King James IV, reputedly, first tasted distilled spirits.
The second painting a view back across the bay - was very different due specifically to the extremely changeable weather. One minute the sun was shining the next it was dull and overcast ... with a constant gusting wind. The sea changed accordingly from a transparent turquoise to dark grey not the ideal conditions for outdoor painting!
My work comes out of exploring the connections between people and their environment, especially the spiritual aspects that develop over time. Lagavulin Bay, safe haven for the Lords of the Isles, had all of the qualities I look for.
Jane Lannaga - Cardhu Distillery
When I was approached by EHS Brann I was very pleased at the time to have been asked to carry out this commission. I was in hospital so it was a nice surprise the time scale however from getting out of hospital to taking pictures and researching the work was very tight for time- the dull weather did not help either.
Cardhu Distillery is only about 15 miles away from my house and is situated in the glorious Speyside landscape. As I approached it I was taken by my first sighting of the two pagoda style towers (1) sitting atop a field of golden crops probably barley which seemed to me very appropriate. The buildings in the distillery are a mix of old and new neatly laid out and well landscaped (2).
As the golden grain photo did not give the best sighting of Cardhu I explored it around and was thrilled to find the pond used for cooling. Again the water with the buildings was very appropriate in whisky making and when I fought my way through the undergrowth to the other side of the pond I was able to capture the old original buildings and the towers reflected there.
Photo (3) I found the most fascinating and I used it for the final work. The foliage framing the view of the buildings was perfect. Whenever I execute a commission I do two in case something goes wrong and then I choose the one I like best.
Photo (4) was the second image that I used for a final picture I was also pleased with it. I just love the way the oriental type towers of the many Speyside distilleries nestle almost incongruously in the Scottish hills and glens.
After the photo shoot I went through the distillery and learned about the different phases in the production. I admired the copper stills glowing warmly in the sunlight and the huge barrels maturing the final product in the dusty gloom of the stores. I was interested to learn that more than one whisky is stored in each bond in case of fire.
I did enjoy the challenge of the commission though I would not have originally thought a distillery would be an appealing subject for a batik however as the picture developed I really enjoyed copying the textures of the old stone walls and painting the reflections of the two pagoda towers.
My choice of name seemed obvious Reflections of Cardhu.
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