Dumfries and Galloway Fine Arts Society returns to the Harbour Cottage Gallery for their spring exhibition.

Welcome to Dumfries and Galloway Fine Arts Society’s spring exhibition here at the Harbour Cottage Gallery in Kirkcudbright.

Over 30 artists, from one of Scotland’s oldest art societies, are showing well over a hundred pieces of work across a wide range of mediums.

And this time members have also entered photographic works that demonstrate their artistic vision.

“We’ve a number of members who primarily use the photographic medium or use photography in their mixed media works,” says Paul O’Keeffe, the Society’s chair. “So it’s natural now for us to make sure they feature within our fine arts exhibitions,” he explains.

Alistair Hamilton, a photographic artist and DAGFAS member says:

“I am so pleased to be taking part in a DAGFAS exhibition for the first time as it begins showing artistic work created using traditional or digital photographic techniques.

“The Society is looking for original works made with the intention of creating an artistic effect. This is in contrast to photography which is photojournalism, reportage, fashion or straightforward portraiture,” Alistair explains

The Society’s next exhibitions are at Eskdalemuir Hub in May, and Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries, from July to mid August.

Dumfries and Galloway Fine Arts Society celebrated its centenary in 2022.

Notable founding members in 1922 included Jessie M. King, her husband E. A. Taylor, and Chris J. Fergusson. Early members included E.A. Hornel and Charles Oppenheimer. The Scottish Colourist F.C.B. Cadell and Katherine Cameron were also regular exhibitors in the 1920s.

An annual exhibition has been held every year since 1922 with the exception of five years during the Second World War. Centenary year 2022 was marked with special exhibitions in Dumfries and Kirkcudbright. And 2027 will see special exhibitions at both Kirkcudbright Galleries & Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries to mark the Society’s 100th year of exhibiting work.

Kie Stewart opens the 2026 season at the Harbour Cottage Gallery.

Kie will be showing his own work and also offering for sale work of other artists that he has bought for himself.

Those of you who have been around the Harbour Cottage Gallery for a while will recognise Kie’s name. For many years, he organised the gallery’s exhibitions (and much more).

The Harbour Cottage Gallery is closed for a short time at the start of each year.

The 2026 programme with start on 20 March with an exhibition of work from Kie Stewart followed by an exhibition by Dumfries & Galloway Fine Arts Society, which will run until 11 April.

Our full programme for 2026 is available here.

The annual Christmas Fayre returns to the Harbour Cottage Gallery on 24 November.

This year, regular exhibitors:

• David Alexander
• Alison Corfield
• Jane Fraser
• Alistair Hamilton
• Roger Lever
• Christine Pauly and
• Colin and Pauline Saul

will be joined by makers new to the Fayre

• Hilary Keating
• Katie Olley and
• Roz Plant.

The Kirkcudbright Craft Association returns to the Harbour Cottage Gallery for its winter show between 10 and 22 November 2025.

The Wallnuts is the nickname of the gallery hanging committee, who hang the gallery’s own Summer, Autumn and Open exhibitions.

This is a chance for the Wallnuts to display their own work in the gallery.

Taking part this year are:

• Susan Bielinski
• Alison Corfield
• Cat Coulson
• Laura Derby
• Alistair Hamilton
• Christine Pauly

The annual autumn exhibition of work from invited artists takes place between 13 and 25 October this year.

It is a varied show of painting, printmaking, photography, textiles, ceramics, jewellery, wood craft and more.

Artists from the Kirkcudbright WASPS Studios will be exhibiting in September/October.

Colony of Talent: WASPS Studios to Create a Buzz in Kirkcudbright

Eleven professional artists and makers from WASPS Studios in Kirkcudbright will come together this autumn to showcase their work in the ‘Autumn Show’ at the Harbour Cottage Gallery, running from 29 September to 11 October 2025.

The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see a vibrant mix of practices and unique pieces from the town’s creative community, all in one venue. Visitors can explore the diverse talents of WASPS’ artists and makers, many of whom usually open their studios by appointment only.

“We are an incredibly harmonious group at the moment with a great team atmosphere in our studio spaces, so it makes sense to create another touch point with our community in the much-loved, iconic Harbour Cottage Gallery. Usually our studios are open by appointment only, so to see all of our work gathered in one venue will be a real treat,” said one of the tenants.

WASPS (Workshop and Artists Studio Provision Scotland Ltd) is Scotland’s national provider of creative spaces. Drawn to Kirkcudbright for its reputation as the “Artists’ Town”, WASPS has supported creativity here since 2010, when the linked townhouse conversion of Cannonwalls and Claverhouse at 117 High Street was transformed into fourteen studios. Today, the studios remain a vital resource at the heart of Kirkcudbright’s cultural life.

Abstract artists Cuffian and John James Park (Parko) return to the Harbour Cottage Gallery in September. They always put on a good show and fill the galley with a wide range of abstract paintings.

The exhibition is a heartfelt tribute to a remarkable artist whose vision, colour, and spirit continue to inspire.

Born in Jersey, Caroline studied at Salisbury and Brighton Art Schools. She lived in Brussels for a year then London, Sussex and Hampshire before making her home in
Cornwall. There, she painted continuously in and around Penzance, before settling in Paul near Mousehole with her husband, Dave.

Despite their deep ties to Cornwall, Caroline and Dave relocated to Galloway in 2018 to allow Caroline to further pursue her artistic career in the Scotland they had grown to love. Caroline said:

“It’s always so different and magical and there’s so much space – I especially love those moments in winter when the sun pierces through and the hills are lit with electric colours; it’s just incredible.”

Caroline’s long-standing work in Occupational Therapy and in the mental health field, combined with her strong sense of social justice, informed her profound artistic insight. She described her work as:

Our fragile environment is celebrated in my colourful, semi-abstract paintings. The Galloway landscape is my subject, reflecting a deep love and understanding of the four seasons and the opportunity they bring for adventures in paint and mixed media. My colourful palette leads to a joyous celebration and positivity towards our habitat.

The retrospective features works spanning Caroline’s career, inviting visitors to step into her colourful, joyful world and experience the energy, beauty, and spirit of her art.

Many of the works included in the exhibition are reproduced in a book, as a reminder for those who visited the exhibition and as inspiration for those who could not make it along. Copies will be available during the exhibition and afterwards by contacting Alistair Hamilton: a@alistairhamilton.co.uk.