Meet The Maker: Mhairi Killin

Where did you study and was this experience a pivotal part of your creative journey?
I studied for a B.A. Hons degree in Embroidered and Woven Textiles at Glasgow School of Art and then completed a Master of Philosophy in Public Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee. My experience of Glasgow was a of a deep division between Fine Art and Design disciplines; I felt my work crossed this boundary and my experience of wanting to work with other artists with a less defined and ultimately restricting approach, led me into the multi- disciplinary post graduate course. So, yes, the limiting boundaries of my education at GSA were pivotal to my practice in terms of being determined not to be pigeon holed by definitions, but rather to be judged on the quality of my work as an artist.

What are your main sources of inspiration?
The incredible landscape of my home on the Isle of Iona; its physical, spiritual and cultural landscapes capture my imagination and are my primary source of inspiration. My work is also informed by many artists I admire; Beuys, Kounellis, Eva Hesse, Susan Hiller, Mona Hatoum.

Do you work with sketch books?
Yes! This is a positive hangover from my art education; the contribution of sketchbooks to my creative development is very important. They are a visual diary and a vital part of recording thoughts and images.

You live in a remote place. Do you find this a problem with selling and exhibiting your work?
It could be, but I am fortunate in having a gallery on the mainland which exhibits my work nationally. I also run a small commercial gallery here on Iona, which runs alongside my studio practice. Iona attracts visitors from all over the world and my work has been sold to collectors from as far away as Hong Kong and Toronto.

How do you network and keep in touch with what is going on in the art world?
The internet is a fabulous resource for this. I also subscribe to major art and craft publications and make sure I have several gallery trips to Glasgow, Edinburgh and London throughout the year.  Organisations such as HI-Arts and the Cultural Enterprise Office have also been a huge support in terms of developing and maintain networks.

Are there opportunities to network on the Isle of Iona? No! But then one doesn’t move to a rural Inner Hebrideann island expecting it! What materials do you particularly like working with? I love to work with silver, brass, wire, paper, ink. Most work begins with a sketch which can be a collage of all these materials. How have the materials developed and changed in recent years? I have worked more with silver and with the application of text within my work, since receiving a Creative Development Award from the Scottish Arts Council in 2008. Where do you work? Do you have a studio or a particular place where you work? I have a studio in a converted croft steadings which looks out over the Sound of Iona. How do you see your work developing? I hope to be able to continue to work on a larger sculptural scale, whilst still continuing to make the smaller intimate studies which draw people into the themes behind the work. I’d also like to create more work in response to specific environments.

Mhairi Killin - studio

Has your work changed and evolved recently and if so in what way?
The SAC award gave me the opportunity to make bigger, sculptural work for a solo exhibition in 2009/10. I also learned new techniques in applying text to silver and this has extended my visual language and helped me to convey the thinking behind the work more clearly.

What are your future plans and any partnerships in the pipeline?
My long term aim is to renovate the barn building beside my studio and create a residency programme on Iona for visual artists, makers, musicians and writers. In the short term I have recently become involved with an artists group and we will work collaboratively in direct response to specific environments throughout this part of Scotland. In doing so we will raise awareness of contemporary practice in this part of the world and invite others to share in and respond to our amazing and inspirational landscape.

Mhairi Killin
Jan 2011

Mhairi Killin The Blessing of the Ship