Since graduating from traditional training at Art College in Scotland in 1972, Marge has continued to develop her work as a painter, first through observation and then working in the medium of abstract collage. Subject matter for her work varies widely but could be described as being landscape-based. Everything that she experiences is potential for her work, whether at home or during travel, observed or imagined. Marge exhibits locally, regionally, and nationally in the U.S. and, formerly, in Great Britain. She has been the recipient of numerous grants in support of her work, notably from the South Carolina Arts Commission, the Arts & Science council of Mecklenberg County, NC, and from Winthrop University, SC, where she is employed as a professor of art. Meritorious achievements include one-person exhibitions in Washington DC, two-person shows in NYC, having a piece of work purchased for the SC permanent collection, and being selected for a summer residency at the McColl Center for Visual Art in Charlotte, NC in 2006.
Artist's Statement
"My recent work includes selected paintings from 4 series within one large, overall theme entitled ‘Other Worlds’- the ‘Italy’ series’, ‘Studio’ series, the ‘Summer in Winter’ and the ‘Home’ series. While the work differs from series to series, common threads that reflect my experience of these particular places, or ‘worlds’, sometimes directly, often subconsciously, connect each of them. Line, shape, color and space are intuitively manipulated until they find their exact place in the piece as I strive to capture the essential nature of these subjects through drawing, painting and collage, using abstraction.
The ‘Italy’ series is an on-going body of work that reflects my interest in aspects of urban and rural landscape following visits to that country. These pieces try to capture the transient nature of color and light seen on the face of a building and of patterns of fields, tile and brick.
The ‘Studio’ series is a response to the place in which I live and work, my studio in the heart of the old town and to its location, high up, catching beautiful light and wide panoramic views. The juxtaposition of ancient and modern, red brick, elegant architecture and wrought iron are to be seen from the windows as I try to capture plays of light and color on the facades of buildings nearby.
The ‘Summer in Winter’ series is part of an on-going body of work that is inspired by the greenhouse that adjoins my house. In winter, sharply contrasting with the surrounding garden which lies dormant, the greenhouse comes alive with color and light as plants flourish there in the warm environment."