Art Exhibition: 'Lines of the Landscape' by Debbie Lee at Alchemist Gallery

"The pictures I produce are a celebration of the beauty and joy of each place they depict. In viewing, there is something new to be found and enjoyed each time.

Since 2006 I have been making Mixed Media, Stitched, Textile Art for the wall.

My work is developed using layering of various techniques.

I start my process by drawing as a primary step to each piece, drawing simply in black biro, within sketch books, trying to capture the movement and feelings of each place. These line drawings are integral to how each picture will eventually look and are made with the aim of capturing the lines that make each individual place unique.

When starting my final pieces, I paint first with the aim of reflecting the original sketch’s structure. I use this paint layer to define colour value to inform the following layers of collage, both fabric and paper. then I add a final layer translucent fabric before executing the machine stitching. This stitching will once again reflect the lines of the original drawing. Once I have done this, I cut back into the fabrics to reveal lower layers before adding a final embellishment of hand stitching. The resulting work is both considered and intuitive with several dimensions to it, image, composition, colour, line and texture.

I grew up in Fort William and went on to study Embroidered and Woven Textiles at Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 1992. After graduating I worked first as a woven textile designer, then as an outdoor clothing designer. I have lived in Caithness, in the far north of Scotland for the past 20 + years, with my husband, three daughters and a lot of animals.

Growing up in the Highlands of the west coast of Scotland amidst the mountains and glens and now living in the far north of the Highlands, an open, windswept land with dramatic coasts and empty beaches, I find these two very different Highland landscapes most often inform my work. I draw my inspiration from these two territories that are so familiar to me that I feel their breath and movement, employing their lines, colours and contrasts in my embroideries."

Debbie's exhibition is open to the public and runs from the 10th of September - 21st of October 2025 upstairs at Alchemist Gallery, Dingwall.

We are open 10am - 5pm, Monday - Saturday and look forward to welcoming you to Alchemist Gallery.