FRAMEWORK | Dundee Design Festival

Recent outings for Pop-Up Pottery include a birthday party for a group of nine-year olds, two workshops for Downs Syndrome Scotland, and a 'Paint and Pour' session at Kirkcudbright Galleries. I'll be listing some new open-to-all workshops soon, and Pop-Up Pottery is also available for private bookings such as community gatherings, memorable parties and special events. More details on the workshops page, and if you'd like to be informed when I list new workshops, sign up for my newsletter. 

Spring Fling 2024 is Scotland's premier open studio event, and this year is the biggest yet, with 104 studios taking part. Plus there's the Spring Fling Rural Mural, bus tours of the region to take in rural studios, and the CREATE programme supporting experimental artists. 

The event is taking place 25-27 May, and my studio will be open Saturday, Sunday and Monday 10am - 5.30pm on all three days. 

Find our more and plan your visit here. I look forward to seeing you!

I've been commissioned to create two permanent, public sculptures for Woodland Trust, for their sites at Moncreiffe Hill, Perth and Formonthills, near Glenrothes in Fife. 

In advance of creating the sculpture I led a mindful walk at Moncreiffe Hill, and all participants received a walking meditation card to take away, to help connect with the environment and their own inner selves during future walks. The walking meditation is simple steps to help focus on the present moment and let go of distracting thoughts. Download your own walking meditation card at the link below.  

I'm leading events for The Woodland Trust in December which will inform two sculpture commissions:

Mindful walking and forest bathing at Moncreiffe Hill, Perth on Friday 8 December 2023 - more information here

Calling all Earth Adventurers Autumn Walk, at Formonthills Woodland, Glenrothes on Saturday 9 December 2023 - more information here

I've been commissioned to create two permanent, public sculptures for Woodland Trust, for their sites at Moncreiffe Hill, Perth and Formonthills, near Glenrothes in Fife. 

The commissions are the result of a tendering process in which I proposed one new sculpture for the Formonthills wood. However, Woodland Trust liked the proposal so much, they commissioned two versions - one for each site. At Moncreiffe Hill, the piece will replace a wooden sculpture that has reached end of life. At Formonthills, the sculpture will be one of two new pieces to help with navigation and engagement with the woodland environment. 

Installation is due in March 2024. If you'd like to visit the studio to view the pieces before they go off for installation, sign up to my newsletter at the bottom of the page.

Frances Ross Studio is taking part in MaD Festival 2023. MaD Festival aims to bring to Dumfries and Galloway a vibrant, creative festival showcasing the region's local talent and enabling communities to participate in new experiences and discover the artistic wealth of South West Scotland. During this year's festival there will be a series of themed workshops and interactive demonstrations showcasing the region's best, local, creative talent. You can experience first-hand the depth and breadth of the cultural and artistic wealth of South West Scotland. 

The festival is taking place 8th - 16th September 2023 at the South Machars Community Centre in Whithorn. There are 20 creatives taking part offering a wide variety of workshops. Booking goes live at 10am on Thursday 10th August at the website www.madfestivalscotland.com 

An exhibition of contemporary art in collaboration with Kilsture Forest Community Group, 19-20 Aug 2023, 11am-4pm.

KILSTURE ROAMING is a weekend exhibition of site-responsive and public art in Kilsture Forest, which is in The Machars, a peninsula in the West of Dumfries & Galloway. The work in this exhibition includes photography, print, ceramic installation, speculative writing, signage, found objects and audio. The artists tackle themes of memory, belonging, survival, migration, the more-than-human, forestry and landscape, among others, and have practices that span printmaking, sculpture, installation, photography, video and performance.

This exhibition is driven by all the participating artists’ passion and commitment for the region and for progressing contemporary rural creative practice in this place. It acknowledges their desire, their creative labour, and a broad range of intangible benefits.

For more information visit:

https://www.weareupland.com/events/kilsture-roaming

Image: Frances Ross, 2023, ‘connector node field’ (detail). Glazed ceramics, outdoor installation.

At: Kilsture Forest, Dumfries & Galloway. Courtesy of the artist.

15 July 2023, 11.00am - 1.00pm, The Print Room, Wigtown

You are invited to a public discussion about accessing and appreciating  rural contemporary art, or working as or becoming a contemporary artist  in the rural. The event will begin with the artists from Upland’s ROAM  (West) project introducing their practices and discussing contemporary  art in rural contexts.  For more information and booking details click here. 

Image credit: Signage to ROAM (West) artists meeting at Bladenoch Creamerie (Dels’ studio with door painted by Hope London)

Phase Transition (picture left) and Magic On This Planet exhibited at The Briggait, Glasgow in May 2023

Frances Ross is participating in ROAM (West), a project that explores how contemporary art practice can be developed in the Western region of Dumfries and Galloway. 

Led by artist-curator Jack Ky Tan, ROAM (West) will investigate the  potential for developing contemporary visual arts in Western Dumfries  & Galloway, while also providing space and opportunity for  practitioners to connect, exchange knowledge and exhibit alongside one  another.

A small group of artists with a specific interest in contemporary  arts practice will work alongside Jack to explore questions about how  contemporary art can be made in a rural context, what is needed to  support it, and whether there is an audience for it. The group meets regularly between October 2022 and August 2023 to share their  works-in-progress, exchange knowledge & experience, and partipate in  group exhibitions & public engagement events.

Find out more here.