Contact details or email margaret.walty@virgin.net

 

SPRING FLING 2008 & 2009 In May 2008, I took part for the first time in Spring Fling, the open studio event held throughout Dumfries and Galloway during the Bank Holiday weekend, and was delighted with visitors' response to my work. Spring Fling 2009 was again a great success and I was pleased to welcome more new visitors to my studio             I was born in 1952 in Geneva, Switzerland, of a Scottish mother and a Swiss father. I lived in Lebanon, Singapore, Algeria and Spain before returning to Geneva to art college where I studied jewellery. I now live in the south of Scotland and concentrate entirely on painting, which I exhibit through my web site, and at galleries across the UK and abroad. There are many wonderful subjects out there in the world, and I try and capture some of them in my botanical, wildlife and nature paintings. There are also many wonderful subjects that are out of this world, and these are the ones I try and capture in my fantasy paintings. Whatever the subject, I always see it in great detail, and this is how I strive to depict it, from a tiny miniature painting to a larger “space saga”. I paint in acrylics, for the luminous colours of that medium, and am also experimenting with landscapes in oils .   In 2005 I was commissioned to paint 10 portraits of Chinese tree peonies for the book “Peony rockii and Gansu Mudan”, by Will McLewin and Dezhong Chen published in spring 2006. The photograph shows me at work on the Tree Peonies at Phedar Nurseries, Stockport.   I have illustrated three children’s books: “The Last Slice of Rainbow” by Joan Aiken (Jonathan Cape in 1985, and Puffin in 1988). “Hush, Little Baby”, a collection of songs and nursery rhymes (Barefoot Books in1997 in the UK, and in the USA as “Rock-a-Bye Baby”). “The Elves and the Shoemaker” (Barefoot Books in 1998).  I have illustrated “The Celtic Lunar Zodiac”, an exploration of Celtic astrology, myth and lore by Helena Paterson, (Rider 1992, Llewellyn USA 1997) and the cover for “Faery Healing” by Margie McArthur (New Brighton Books 2003). In 2006, I was among several artists chosen by Dougal Dixon to illustrate his first science fiction novel "Greenworld", to be published in Japan (date to be confirmed). I have also exhibited at four shows of the Royal Horticultural Society. I was awarded R.H.S. Silver Gilt medals at the first three, and a Gold medal, the ultimate accolade, at the fourth in January 2007. This was for the peony paintings for the book "Peony rockii and Gansu Mudan". In 1999, I had a solo exhibition at the Jardin Botanique in Geneva, Switzerland.  In  2002 I went to the USA to exhibit at the World Fantasy Convention and have exhibited at the 2005 World Science Fiction Convention and the 2006 British Science Fiction Convention, both in Glasgow, and the 2008 British Science Fiction Convention in London. In early Autumn 2005, I had a near sell-out exhibition at the delightful Broughton Gallery in Lanarkshire, in the heart of John Buchan country. In June 2009, I was one of several artists showing in the exhibition "Inspired by the Garden" at the Gallery in Cork Street, London. This website is intended not only to be a showcase for my work but also features paintings, cards and prints which are directly for sale.  Please contact me via the contact page if you are interested in buying, or wish to discuss commissions for similar works to the ones on show.