I've recently enjoyed playing at familiar venues alongside some new discoveries. In August I was excited to be asked to perform as a soloist on the Sky Arts stage at the Edinburgh International Television Festival 2017. Other artists showcased included Calum Ingram, and Molly Keane (from Sky Arts 'Master of Photography' series). We were also treated to an impromptu piano performance by Channel 4's Jon Snow!
The Sky Arts stand was also demonstrating possible viewing options for the future, including 360 degree TV. You can see the gadgets on the table at the front of the photo. I did have a shot, but I have to confess it made me feel rather dizzy!
Tuning up at the Sky Arts Stand, International Television Festival 2017
International Television Festival 2017
I love playing for small family parties just as much as at more high-profile events, and it was lovely to be part of the silver-wedding celebrations of a wonderful couple in Stathaven a couple of weeks back. It was a busy day, as I then went on to play at an exhibition opening in the evening at the Dancing Light Gallery. I was lucky enough to listen in to Sue White Oakes speaking about her love of engineering and how this has influenced the development of her particular methods of working in copper to produce intricate and beautiful sculptures. I also leant that the methods used to make bronze casts of her work are almost as time-consuming and demanding as those involved in the production of the originals. It was absolutely fascinating, and I loved the way that nothing seemed to hold her back - if she wished to produce a particular effect in the metal, and was unable to do so because of the limitations of the available tools, she simply designed and made new tools and machinery to fit the bill! Fascinatingly, her original inspiration for a series of insect sculptures came from the conjunction of a desire to find a use for old copper piping, alongside the discovery of a dead beetle in her workshop.