After many weeks of preparation, the third annual edition of the Big Art Show in Paisley is up and running and once again there is a brilliant mixture of art from all ages and backgrounds, from novice to experienced professional artists, in an all-inclusive show. This continues to be one of the largest open art shows in the UK, this year with around 1,500 hundred works by over 500 artists.

There is something quite special about this show – it was very evident that everyone handing-in their work was so happy to be involved, to be a collective part of something bigger, and this seems to be building further year-on-year.

The show is now firmly a part of Paisley’s arts calendar. Opening night, on the 30th of August, was much-anticipated and was a joyful occasion, with hundreds of participating artists taking the opportunity to show work to family and friends and share in a celebration of everyone’s endeavours. Fourteen prizes were awarded to artists by supporting organisations and individuals – just a part of the widespread support that the show has.

Almost all works are for sale, with many at very affordable prices. Sales were very brisk on opening night which was very encouraging: Outspoken Arts and Art Paisley Ltd. will look to further their many valuable community arts projects with funds raised through commission by the show.

So what’s in the show this year? Drawings, paintings, prints, collage, ceramics, textiles, glass art, sculpture, jewellery, photography and video are all here, with the works spread over two large floors of this former department store.

Each work is labelled with a QR code to access its full details, and background information about the artist, which often enhances the appreciation of a piece.

As in years before, there are several featured artists, a mix of some long-established and some just getting started, who were invited to show a body of work, including Ashley Cook (printmaking), Caroline Gormley (painting), Justine Lynch (drawing and painting), Paul Marshall (mixed media), Mark Mulholland (painting), Erinclare Scrutton (drawing and painting), Ann Vance (painting) and ArtClub Collective East Ayrshire, who have created a map-based work directly on the window of the Art Department facing the interior pedestrian mall.

There is interesting work featured in the Art Department’s shop window on Causeyside Street too – especially a series of six carved wooden wall pieces by Sadia Gul Ibrahim – these are intricately detailed and coloured architectural facades inspired by stories and centuries old houses and palaces in Pakistan, arising from Sadia’s Pashtun heritage. All of the window area can be walked-into, to make close inspection.

Also in the window are four large oil paintings by Robert Marshall depicting the Clyde shipyards, and these have attracted much early interest. Here too is The Caravan by Eddie Gorman – an imaginative and humorous upcycled modelled piece, re-using many everyday materials. Undoubtedly there is considerable diversity in the show.

Inevitably, as in 2022 and 2023, I can only say now that here are some of the pieces I liked – I will probably have new favourites on the next go-round!

The painted landscapes of Jade Stout are re-imagined landscapes and seascapes of Orkney, Shetland and the North-east, based on Jade’s time in those places. Amongst her distinctive colours there is often somewhere a little outline in gold, which I love. Brunaness Ootrug, is one of Jade’s six works in the show, based on the Shetland landscape.

There are six linocut and woodcut prints by Lisa Hooper, mostly of birds with beautifully fresh colours in water-based inks. Nest is a reduction woodcut depicting a nesting Gannet I particularly liked.

Two New Orleans-influenced pieces of decorative headwear, made to party-in by Sullivan Freed are not to be missed! Bunarchy 2024 and Lundi Gras Red Beans and Rice Parade are flamboyant pieces made from found and charity shop objects, cereal boxes, wire and embroidery thread.

Gallery Day’ by Melissa Corkhill is a small painting that frames a view of Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh, from a window of the new Scottish Galleries of the National Gallery of Scotland.

Hopeful, an atmospheric landscape painting by Stuart McLelland, has beautiful pink sky tones, reflected in water – I found it evocative of J M W Turner’s coloured light.

Waterlilies, Mount Stuart by Christine Glasgow is a beautifully impressionistic and brightly coloured painting in acrylics.

I enjoyed the graphic qualities and overlaid effects of Bee Morrison’s oil paintings The Water Tower and Maze to the Tree. Bee says of his works, ‘they are inspired by the point where humankind meets the expanses of nature.’

Two bird sculptures by Clara Cabrie will make you smile – they are Mariella and Boris (based on a hooded South African vulture), skilfully modelled from papier mache, paper rods and painted in acrylics.

Amongst several mixed media works by Laura Dempsey is Old Sandstone Tenement. The artist adds depth to architectural subject matter, her media being ink, acrylic, jewellery and resin. Laura says, ‘I enjoy mixed media to create atmospheric built environment images of Glasgow.’

Glass Cone is an oil painting by Scott S Simpson of the historic Northern Glass Cone at Alloa Glassworks. I enjoyed the visibility of his brushstrokes and the effect created with a thick application of paint. Scott says, ‘I like to keep the work fresh by using expressive mark making and this gives the work a sense of energy and movement.’

Two Worlds Self Portrait by Hazel Blue, set in the Kibble Palace in Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens, is an interesting composition, with the artist mirroring the pose of one of the glasshouse statues. Also in the show, look out for a remarkable portrait by Hazel of her daughter, titled Light in the Cave.

Some famous faces are spread across the show – Rod Stewart by John Gilchrist is an incredibly skilful drawing – Rod is watching the viewer! Look out also for studies of David Byrne, John Byrne, Salvador Dali, Elizabeth Taylor and several more.

Shoes are the subject in Converse Project, a remarkable pencil drawing conveying light and shade by Nadia S, aged 15.

There is a significant Photography section too, and I enjoyed Bailey’s Window, a shot of the well-known antique shop in Paisley, one of several entries by Daniel Donaldson.

I hope that the personal highlights described here convey a flavour of the inspirational show that Outspoken Arts, Art Paisley and their many supporters and volunteers have once again brought together. A visit in-person to see the fantastic variety on display is highly recommended – in fact, with so much to enjoy, I challenge you not to want to go back again and again!

Entry to the show is free and there is a full colour souvenir catalogue featuring a selection of works, price £3.

With thanks from Artmag to Steven Thomson and Lisa Watt of Outspoken Arts Scotland for their kind help with this review, and to author Gordon Reid.