Aberdeenshire artists Mary Bourne and Lynne Strachan are to lead and develop the pioneering mental health and art project “The Art of Farming” over the next year.

The farming community will be able to meet the artists at ‘The Art of Farming’ events this summer.  NFU Scotland’s Vice Chair for the North East, Kevin Gilbert, will host an event at Womblehill Farm, Kintore on Tuesday, 19 July, followed by another at Stewart and Yvonne Flett’s Countryframes Gallery in Leslie, Insch on 20 July. Both events start at 6pm and conclude at 8pm.

The Art of Farming, launched in August 2021, is an innovative public art programme which seeks to raise awareness of mental health issues in the agricultural community, and explore positive ways to improve farmers’ and agri business employees’ health and work-life balance through creative engagement.

Developed by Live Life Aberdeenshire’s Cultural Engagement team in partnership with Aberdeenshire’s North East farming community, NFU Scotland and Robert Gordon University, the project’s first phase, led by artist Nic Green, saw Raku pottery workshops delivered in a barn, and tile making at the Spring Show at Thainstone.

Engagement with participants led to a diverse mix of images on tiles inspired by farming and the landscape, and pots with textures reflecting barley and the soil. Participants discovered creative skills they had claimed did not exist and worked with each other offering words of encouragement and sharing ideas and stories.

Picking up from where Nic Green left off, Live Life Aberdeenshire has announced the appointment of local artists, Mary Bourne and Lynne Strachan to lead and develop “The Art of Farming” over the next year.  Both artists grew up in and continue to be based in the North East of Scotland and are looking forward to meeting members of the farming community over the coming year to co-creating a body of work with those who wish to become more involved.

Live Life Aberdeenshire Cultural Development Officer, Sheila Waterhouse, secured funding from Creative Scotland, National Lottery Community Fund and Aberdeenshire Council’s Developer Obligations for this innovative project.

Kevin Gilbert said: “We are looking forward to working alongside Mary and Lynne, as we move into this next phase of the project. Both ladies bring a wealth of past and developing experience of working with rural communities, most recently with local NFUS Banffshire members in the Cabrach, where many of the stories explored and revealed have great synergies with the issues experienced today.”

North East Regional Manager, Lorna Paterson added: “Engagement in, and interpretation through the arts is recognised in helping build meaningful social connections, for the benefit of both artist and participant. We are really hoping to tackle mental wellbeing challenges by encouraging our farmers and employees and owners from local agricultural organisations and businesses to engage with The Art of Farming project and we look forward to welcoming them on 19 and 20 July.”

Notes to editors

• Further information about Mary Bourne and Lynne Strachan can be found at www.marybourne.co.uk and www.curiouscranberry.co.uk
• For more information about the project please contact North East Regional Manager, Lorna Paterson on 07786 860453 or lorna.paterson@nfus.org.uk
  

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