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Kirkcudbright is pronounced Kir-Coo-Bree and means the 'Kirk of Cuthbert' . It takes its name from a long demolished early Christian stone church established in the 700's. Kirkcudbright is now known as the Artist¿s Town.
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Arts & Crafts
The light and landscape of Dumfries & Galloway has been an inspiration to artists for centuries. Over 400 contemporary artists and craftsmen currently make the region their home, living and working in small towns and villages scattered across the region, with many incorporating the natural world around them into their works.
The pretty harbour town of Kirkcudbright is the most well known haven for artists in the region and has acquired the title of Artist's Town for its historical artistic connections. At the turn of the century it became the focus of an artist's colony which included E A Hornel, who introduced several of the "Glasgow Boys" to the town and eventually settled there permanently in 1895, with his home and garden in the town now managed by the National Trust for Scotland. As the reputation of the Kirkcudbright School grew it attracted other artists including the distinguished illustrator Jessie M King, her husband E A Taylor, and Charles Oppenheimer.
Kirkcudbright today still boasts a thriving artistic community, with galleries, workshops and studios to visit while the town itself is picture perfect to look at, with rows of brightly painted houses lining the heart of this ancient burgh.
Nearby Gatehouse of Fleet was home to a remarkable artistic family with strong connections to the artistic colony in Kirkcudbright. Of the six children born to James and Mary Faed, five became successful artists and had their work exhibited at the Royal Academy in London and the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh.
The influence of this artistic heritage has spread throughout the region and in almost every town at any time of the year you'll find workshops or studios to visit, galleries and exhibitions to view and souvenirs to take home. |
| Arts & Crafts feature of the month |
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| Striding Arches
Striding Arches is a work by internationally acclaimed environmental artist, Andy Goldsworthy.
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