Mel Shand. Artist
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 what's been happening?

NEOS 2021

Whilst we can appreciate that the pandemic of 2020 was a globally devastating event - it proved to me that we can change our behaviour if we want to. I spent lockdown gathering myself in isolation from the trials of  motherhood and too many projects that had resulted from my inability to say no! I did not resent the time it gave me to recalibrate and prioritise and if I'm honest - find my desk surface that lay somewhere under a hoard of unfinished business. 
I did galvanise myself sufficiantly to help the community with a Need a Neighbour campaign allowing more isolated and lonely people to find help quickly with the delivery of prescriptions, shopping and dog walking, and we also set up a fantastic team of "scrub-hubbers" - local ladies who sewed hundreds of masks, scrub bags and sets of scrubs - (many made from the children's duvet sets which made their way into the childrens ward at ARI.) Once funding was secured to buy material, the pattern templates were cut out of plywood to allow for repeated cutting in multiple sizes, kits were made up with cut fabric, elastic, binding and vylene, dispatched to the Scubb-hubbers who sewed them into scrubbs. We provided sets to the Outer Hebrides, Oxford's John Radcliffe, three local care homes, a couple of bespoke sets and enough to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to warrant our own laundry stamp!
They were strange times indeed, but on the plus side the weather was amazing, and nature thrived in the peace and quiet, the garden blossomed and a bloody sparrowhawk killed 14 of my doves.
Other artists came up with two amazing lock down projects, for the first  completed three portraits for the NHS Portraits for Heroes campaign, which was an excellent idea that really took a grip of the art community along with the Artist support Pledge - where you sold original paintings for no more than £200, and if you sold 10 pieces - you pledged to buy back from another artist.
Amongst all the quiet, work went on around the Estate and whilst swiping in a firebreak my husband encountered a Capercaillie - the largest bird of the grouse family and rarer than a Golden Eagle. We have been monitoring these magnificent creatures with camera traps during the Lek for the last 18 years - only very rarely catching sight of them in real life. However this year was to prove that very occasionally a Caper will turn rogue and there was nothing shy or retiring about him! He would simply hear us coming weekly to change the batteries on the camera traps and fly in towards us making his presence well and truly felt - the result was some amazing photographs - which I couldnt share at the time for fear of him becoming a spectacle.
On the subject of birds, but of the slightly smaller variety - my garden was alive with them which inspired me to start drawing some close observational studies again, and the subject of a new series of limited edition prints. Then just I started to think I was ready for a new challenge a job came along that was truly inspiring and such a tonic. I was lucky enough to be invited to provide the images for the Atlantic Salmon Trust Missing Salmon project social media campaign. Poor me. I got to strike 2 counts off my bucket list, visiting Harris in the Outer Hebrides and the Standing Stones of Calanais, had three 2 Golden Eagle days, numerous close encounters with red deer and started filming underwater. It was the greatest pleasure and a real high point to look back on travelling around Scotland to such out of the way and beautiful places - with the added bonus of quiet roads!
 

RIVER DEE TRUST

In 2019, I completed a number of photographic commissions for the River Dee Trust in order to help build up their library of images. As the staff are the ones with their boots on the ground I also delivered some training to help with composition and story telling. It really helps to have a clear idea of the story you want to tell before you capture the images, and to think in advance how they might be used. I was also delighted to deliver the annual report, once again in a more user friendly magazine square format.
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2018 - a round up!

At the opening of the River Dee fishing season 1st Feb 2017


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Mel Shand Artist - Event Organiser at "Fashion's a Keeper" with Country Ways and on behalf of the River Dee Trust 21st October 2016


Very excited to be heading off to the GWCT Scone Game Fair on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of July 2016. This year I am sharing a stand with the incredibly talented Liz Phillips who makes the most amazing feather creations! - Come and see us in Stag row - stand 13. I have produced a whole lot of brand new work at a slightly smaller scale than last year's 5ft stags!
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Now HERE's an IDEA....you can BID for this picture

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This is the drawing commissioned by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust  for the 2015 Game Fair programme at Scone, Perth. It has been used on the programme which means that everyone who buys one will have a little image of their own! The ORIGINAL measures 31" x 27.5" in its frame and is a chalk pastel and pencil drawing. Although the displaying season is mostly over - cock pheasants can still be seen in the fields squaring up to each other - hence the title "Boys will be Boys". I have decided to approach the sale of this original a little unconventionally. It is available by online AUCTION from now until Sunday 5th July 2015 at 9pm. The winner must be able to arrange collection from me in Aberdeenshire as due to the glass it cannot be posted.
There is a limited edition of 150 A3 signed prints at £100 each + £10 p&p and I also have unlimited A4 signed prints at ££15 + £5 p&p.
Bids can made online only by going to Mel Shand Artist facebook page.
Make a bid on the relevant post. 
While you are there - make sure and "like" my page. 
The auction ENDs at 9pm Sunday 5th July.
IF the picture makes its reserve I will make a further donation to the GCWT. 
Simple enough I hope!

And of course if you are at the Game Fair come along and see me in the
 Artists in Action tent!
http://www.scottishfair.com/
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My latest hare from a series called "Committed" this is number V.
I'm often asked how long a painting takes, this one was started about three years ago and has been glowering at me from the back of the studio for all this time. Sometimes it takes a lot of effort to go back to a painting and finish it. There are just so many variables, your mood, the light, time, the effort cleaning brushes, moving on from a particular colour fixation, the drawing being satisfactory, the anatomy being correct. But when the stars align and the paint dries, and you can bare to look at it without curling your toes too much....then it's time to set it free
!
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My wonderful framer Rogie Riddell has finished these off a treat and now they look fit to hang on the wall!
My wonderful husband - with No Fuss at all (see what I did there?) collected them all for me today as they are too big for my car! - the packing has commenced - the house looks like a paper bomb has gone off and someones stirred it with a stick......slowly but surely everything will come together.

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ARTISTS IN ACTION 
GWCT GAME FAIR  Scone, Perth
 3rd -5th July 2015

I am thrilled to announce that I have been selected as one of four 'Artists in Action' at this years GCWT Game Fair. It is always a highlight of our year and the children have been going every year since before they were in push chairs. We love the Game fair and I like nothing more than shaking off my menfolk and going for a rake amongst the food tent and all the stalls - we have spent quite a few hard earned ££'s there over the years! But a highlight and a definite Bucket List item for me has always been the Artists in Action Tent!
I also used to think I wanted to take the dogs, but Hedge for once put his foot down and flatly declared that nothing could be more miserable for our dogs than a day in amongst all the crowds of folk. Annoyingly he is quite right - it's rare to find one of our lot on a lead let alone off the hill - it's just not their cup of tea, but I'm always delighted to see everyone else's. There's one couple that seem to have six deer hounds -all on leads and inevitably puppies in arms -all shapes and sizes but I particularly love the scruffy ones..
So Ive been painting madly and looking forward to meeting everyone in the GWCT tent! -Roll on July - but not too quickly - still got to let the oil dry!

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A Portrait of the River Dee has arrived!

Slainte Salar!


Meaning literally "Here's to your good health Salmon! -This signed, numbered and limited (to 200) edition print was inspired by the amazing return journey of the Atlantic salmon to its spawning grounds along the River Dee and is available directly from the site for £150 framed/£100 unframed plus p&p.

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In 2012 I was invited by the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board to find a way to help mark their 150th anniversary in 2013. I came up with the idea of capturing the people whose lives and work revolve around the river, and spent the next 18 months travelling the 88 mile length of the river from the west at the source at the Linn of Dee, to the harbour mouth in the east in Aberdeen. Along the way I met and photographed all 51 fishing ghillies employed on the river in 2013 and some of the other folks who live and work along the way. The resulting book called - A Portrait of the River Dee - has now been published and can be ordered by contacting me through this site (under the drop down menu above click on MORE and then CONTACT.

I'm also very proud that the Duke of Rothesay wrote the foreword and I'm grateful to everyone for their time and support in bringing the project to fruition. AND It's not just a book about fishing but also the lives and work of people who I admire and respect! A percentage of the proceeds from the sales will be donated to the River Dee Trust, the community charity that carries out research which informs the practical restoration projects to improve the river for future generations. It is a beautifully bound hard-backed book which was designed along the lines of a traditional game book but would sit comfortably in the fishing hut, shooting lodge or on the coffee table. At £25 plus £5 p&p it also makes a very nice present! But don't just take my word for it - scroll down and read what others had to say!

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Yes, indeed, well worth it.  Beautifully presented and a lovely gift for my husband!  Congratulations on getting there in the end! Lois.

 It is beautifully produced and the quick glimpses I have so far had are fascinating.  It will be a lasting piece of local history - congratulations on putting it all together in such an attractive and interesting way.
What next? -Margaret

Hi Mel, book arrived safely nice presentation and great pictures. Well done.Ian

Have just received you excellent book. It really is terrific. Well done! Christopher

Apart from the main body of it all, very interesting to see the ghillies fly selection. Was always a Blue Charm man myself – but not on the Dee! Chris.
Got it yesterday. Thanks. Great book. I didn't realise there were so many ghillies! Andy

I have just been home for lunch and the books have been delivered…. They look great, I am looking forward to reading them  Cheers, Jackie

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http://thebothyproject.blogspot.co.uk/

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In February 2013 I was fortunate enough to win a short residency in a competition to promote art in and near the Cairngorm National Park in partnership with The Old Bridge Inn and The Bothy Project. The blog of this adventure can be read by clicking on the link above.

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  • happenings
  • home
  • commission
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  • The Romance and the Reality