Landscape show is designed to provoke

WINNERS of this year’s Scottish Landscape Awards are now on show at the Kirkcudbright Galleries.

Mick McGraw, of Helensburgh, took the top title for his artwork ‘Glen Croe landslide, 31st August 2020’.

The photograph was taken from the slopes of Ben Donich, looking over the “Rest and Be Thankful” on the A83, an area repeatedly hit by landslides. As a member of Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team, artist Mick McGraw knows this landscape well.

He said: “Landscape for me is layered with history, politics and human intervention. Glen Croe is not just a scenic view but a place where engineering solutions and natural forces collide, shaping how we navigate the familiar terrain.

“Winning this award encourages me to keep exploring these fragile intersections and to document how our attempts to control the landscape become part of its evolving story.”

His piece is one of 107 artworks selected from over 2100 entries currently on display at Kirkcudbright. Each of the works selected do not allow the viewer to be passive but instead, provoke a reaction, inviting conversations that challenge the concept of landscape art.

The organisers said: “Unlike traditional landscape painting, many have a greater sense of connection to a place or a time rather than depicting a recognisable location.

“The resulting exhibition is the biggest and most ambitious survey of contemporary landscape art in Scotland today and includes emerging artists alongside established professionals working across a wide range of media – from painting, sculpture, drawing and miniatures, to photography and film.”

Cllr Tracey Little has been to see it and said: “The Scottish Landscape Awards 2025 celebrates the powerful connection between place and creativity, honouring artists who capture the spirit of extraordinary landscapes.

“We are delighted that the partnership between Dumfries and Galloway Council and The Scottish Arts Trust has brought this significant exhibition to our region.”

The show is free to visit and runs until Saturday September 28.