ATTENTION ALL ART LOVERS!

The ever popular biggART Exhibition is extending it's opening time from three to seven days in 2009. The biggART Exhibition, held in the Gillespie Centre, will be open from Monday 12th October to Sunday 18th October. biggART displays a huge variety of local artistic talent from spinning and weaving products, photographs to delicate watercolours.

This year the guest artists featured are Edward Bowen, Biggar resident and Sarah Beattie-Smith, former pupil of Libberton Primary.

EDWARD BOWEN B.ED., M.C.C.Ed.

Edward trained at Birmingham College of Art as a silversmith and spent several years in industry as a designer/craftsman. During this period he produced several major commissions including a rose bowl for the American War Cemetery, Cambridge, a loving cup for the British Jewellers' Association and goblets for Nikita Krushchev on his visit to Britain (prior to the Cuban Bay of Pigs fiasco).

He has taught and lectured in a variety of Educational establishments including Mainstream Secondary Schools, Sixth Form College and Teacher Training College. He is competent in a variety of 3D materials including wood, plastic and metal. As a skilled RAKU (Japanese kiln technique) potter he has developed resist decoration using computer aided design and much of his recent porcelain work has been influenced by his visit to Kyoto, Japan.

Since relocating to Biggar he has concentrated on 2D work using a variety of medium. His work is recognisable by it's slight reference to cubism together with his heavily textured landscapes and vibrant semi-abstracts. He regularly exhibits at two prominent galleries in Peebles.

SARAH BEATTIE-SMITH BA(Hons)

Sarah studied Sculpture at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 2006. Growing up around Biggar, she was always interested in art and her surroundings. Her work, consequently focuses on two key themes; natural and man made environments, reflected in the materials she uses, and the process of mapping one's own world - the world of friends, family and home.

After graduating, Sarah spent two years as President of the Students' Union at Edinburgh College of Art. There, she argued with senior management, made lots of things better for students and put on some really good parties. Since leaving the art college, Sarah has moved into the world of politics and the voluntary sector, now working at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations as a campaigner. She loves her job but always feels guilty for not doing enough on the art side like her Granny says she should. Sarah hopes that Granny will approve of her showing her work as part of the Biggar Little Festival.