Dumfries Museum has an open invitation for the public to be inspired by the paintings of one of the town’s prominent female artists, Chris Fergusson, on Thursday.
The free drop-in family activity, between 11am and 3pm, was originally due to be held yesterday but had to be postponed because of staff sickness.
Wonderful Watercolours offers the chance to view the paintings of Chris Fergusson – one of the famed “Glasgow Girls” of the art world, which include many scenes of Dumfries that are now display in the museum, and create your own watercolours of local scenes to take home.
Chris, who attended Dumfries Academy, London’s Crystal Palace School of Art and Glasgow School of Art – where she also tutored at, along with Kirkcudbright Academy, Glasgow High School for Girls, and the Maxwelltown Benedictine Convent School in Dumfries – is known for capturing many scenes from the town of the early 20th century in her work in watercolours and oils.
She painted many places in Scotland and is also known for her metalwork and tapestry pieces, and her interest in the suffrage movement.
Chris and her husband, David, were involved in many different aspects of Dumfries life including the Dumfries and Galloway Fine Arts Society, which they helped to found in 1922 with celebrated artists Jessie M. King, E.A. Taylor and E.A. Hornel.
Much of her works at the museum have been loaned by her grandchildren, whose mum, Agnes “Nan” (married name, Henderson) who was also an artist. Her drawings and paintings are also on display as part of The Women of Dumfries: Art, Suffrage, Temperance and War exhibition. featuring the time period of c.1850-1950.
