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South Aberdeenshire Abstracts, a collective of local artists have the perfect cure for the winter blues offering a fast track into the new season with an invitation to their latest exhibition “Spring into Colour.”

The exhibition in Montrose library features the art of eleven accomplished local artists each with their own unique style but with a common commitment to the power of an abstract art.

The artists include Jacky Niven, Kate MacKenzie, Angela Arnold, Pam Hamilton, Bern Ross, Gay Halley, Pauline Newman, Gregor Phillips, Janice Headrick and Michi Clark.

South Aberdeenshire Abstracts (SABAB) formed in February 2010, as founder Jacky Niven explained: “I set up SABAB to be able to show work of a similar type and also to help us to develop together and grow as artists. We inspire each other and find that we get some wonderful new ideas.”

The artworks on display and for sale have been created with greatly varying stylistic approaches, all stunning works with texture and intense colour.

Jacky from Newtonhill continued: “I work with the texture and form of the mediums I’m using. I have synesthesia, I hear music and spoken numbers, spoken letters, shapes and days of the week in colour and texture. For example triangles always mean yellow to me so any triangles in my work will always be yellow. There is always an element of synesthesia involved.”

Bern Ross who lives in Stonehaven spoke of the conception of her piece Dreaming seaward: “It started just enjoying the colour, often that’s how most of my paintings begin I just have to get some colour on to a canvas and while I’m doing it I start thinking about what it’s reminding me of.”

Barras based artist Janice Headrick said: “I wasn’t really an abstract painter, I’m trying to become more abstract, so this is kind of a transition into abstraction. I live near Catterline so there is plenty of inspiration there. It’s a good group, really friendly, everybody enjoys it and we all learn from one another as well.”

As an added attraction on Saturday, March 12 between 1pm and 3pm the group are holding a special event for the public with live music from Bob Dunsire on classical guitar, refreshments and the opportunity to meet and chat with many of the artists.

The fabulous exhibition is the culmination of a lot of hard work for the talented collective but the finishing touch lies with the public.

Jacky concluded: “Your painting isn’t finished until you have the viewer in front of it, that is what makes your painting complete, it’s the reaction of that person that finishes your painting. The connection with the audience is crucial that doesn’t mean they have to like the painting but it does mean that the painting is complete.”

The “Spring into Colour” exhibition will be on display until April 1 at Montrose Library, which opens from 10am Monday to Saturday; until 5pm Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 8pm on Monday and Wednesday, and 6pm on Thursdays. Admission is free.

For further information visit South Aberdeenshire Abstracts website.