As well as extensive Country Clothing Halls, an Award-Winning Food Hall, and a vast array of Scottish gifts, the House of Bruar in scenic Perthshire plays host to the largest private gallery in the Scottish Highlands. Focusing on art depicting Scotland’s iconic flora and fauna, as well as a small collection of antique furniture, the Scottish Rural Art Gallery has recently undergone an expansion – we caught up with Gallery Manager Angyleina Deza to find out more.
Tell us about your recent expansion and what this means for the Gallery
It is all very exciting! When our MD first mentioned the move I thought to myself “fantastic! A new adventure, a new challenge” I was immediately flooded with ideas on layouts, internal exhibitions, events, private viewings, you name it! While we were moving we let some of our clients have a little sneak peek behind the curtains and created some more excitement.
The expansion means opportunity to show off the fantastic plethora of art we have in the Highlands. It allows our clients a greater experience, each room was thoughtfully designed to captivate and demand attention. Needless to say, we are very happy with the results.
Tell us a little about your typical clients and what they’re looking for in a piece.
Our clients are people who have made their dreams come true. As a break from their busy lives, they adore the beauty of Scotland and want to secure a permanent memory of it for their homes. In a way we deal with the hopeless romantic – you have to love the art you take home and our clients truly do.
The Gallery space isn’t just about those acquiring pieces – we have created the space for all of our shoppers to enjoy themselves, slow down in their journeys and take in a moment of inspiration.
Which painters are you particularly excited about just now?
That is a very unfair question, goodness, where shall I start? It is impossible not to be excited about every single piece we display. However, a few that are consistent favourites with our clients are:
Jasper Leadbeater – a young creative soul! His canvas is most unusual, shot gun shells he collects from shooting grounds and spray paint to depict and celebrate game birds. Such a clever, sophisticated and creative concept! We had a very successful Glorious 12 exhibition recently and were very happy to find a home for the main art piece with the same name.
In a more conventional medium, Owen Williams has so much to say through his watercolour paintings. His latest work “Venus Woodcock” you can see the star in the glorious landscape when the hues of blue sky turning into hot orange as the sun sets behind the shadows of the trees and the woodcock crosses over an autumnal landscape. Not just an artist but a passionate conservationist, I recently had the opportunity to hear him talking at a Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust event, and I finally understood “Ever Watchful” which, in my humble view, looks like the last surviving woodcock of the apocalypse!
One of our all-time greats is Ian MacGillivray. There is no one who knows the Scottish landscape like he does – he is a deer stalker and red deer expert. In my time at Bruar we have had two major exhibitions with him. The first was Deer People, which was based around a book by Ian with photographer Glyn Satterley and author Richard Cooke. Ian painted 24 oil portraits of people involved in the management of red deer. It was such a touching occasion; we had the full collection on display for a period with attendees recognising themselves! So many stories were shared in that mix of incredibly hard working individuals and art lovers.
The second big event we had was Sea Air & Ancient Hills – transitioning from hills to water was a risk for Ian, but a triumph. Two of his biggest ever pieces (in dimension and value) sold on the first day. Ian very kindly gave us an additional surprise, painting “Highlander” which was sold to a valued private client who was proud for us to hang it in the Gallery for two months with a ‘sold’ tag so people could see it! He would come time after time to admire it and tell people that he owned the painting, which he did with understandable pride.
Finally, I cannot leave out Rodger McPhail, the artist behind the Famous Grouse whisky bottle artwork. Rodger is the kindest, gracious artist I have ever met – so talented yet so humble. His work has that special quality is only mastered through years of experience and true love for nature. We were proud to host an event with Rodger where he signed bottles of The Famous Grouse for attendees! It was a great pleasure to show people the journey behind the talent.
Tell us a little more about the sculptors and other makers who are wowing your clients.
A true master of his craft, Jason Sweeney has delivered yet another stunning sculpture “The Kingfisher”. The delicate undulating shapes he transforms stainless steel under his powerful rhythmical hammering are exquisite! You would have to look at the slick hand-polished surface to understand the patience, love and utter dedication that goes behind each sculpture. His profile has grown so much since he first started with several private commissions; it is an honour to represent him at our Art Gallery.
Sam MacDonald is another key sculptor. He has only one subject – fish, and the endless inspiration he draws out of his honest love for fishing and preservation is incredible. He is not only creating masterpieces but leaving legacy, real footprints for the next generation to walk on. His work “Reap the Maelstrom” is such a gentle yet impactful cry for the impact we have in the underwater world, something many are unaware of because we cannot see it or perhaps do not want to. His extraordinary works are also wonderfully easy to live with, being wall hangings of various shapes and sizes.
Are those who purchase antiques from The House of Bruar also looking for art, or do they tend to be separate?
I would say that our clients look at the furniture as an extension of art. Chippendale, Sheraton, Gillows, with their talented artisans, were the major ‘maisons’ of their day, producing art in furniture form! Often someone looking for an antique sideboard will be inspired to purchase the paintings displayed alongside it – or vice versa.
Our approach is to weave a story. Each room in out Gallery has a name, like The Botanical Room, with original botanical drawings by Marjory Lyon where we have placed our popular Antler Furniture. The naturally intertwining legs of the furniture gives roots to the botanical pieces on the wall, as they will in a client’s home.
What did you do before you came to The House of Bruar, and what’s it like working in the Highlands of Scotland?
I am very fortunate to have worked in some wonderful companies. James Purdey & Sons, LINLEY and briefly at Admiralty Arch, all based in London. My roles were all finding homes for collaborative work, art and bespoke pieces, and I had the privilege to deal with a wide variety of clients – private, public, national and international.
I love the city but coming from the Andes in South America I have always been drawn to the natural beauty of the Highlands. Having learnt everything I could in ‘The Big Smoke’; it made perfect sense that I should continue my journey with the House of Bruar.
Working here is one of my dream jobs. I get to be surrounded by art in different forms, Scottish people are incredibly kind and caring; the artists are passionate about what they do, and I believe House of Bruar shares the same values and commitment to quality of my previous employers. What else can you ask for?
You can browse the Gallery collection and plan your next visit to House of Bruar online, or if you’re looking for something particular, reach out to Angy and her team, on thegallery@houseofbruar.com.
