Kathryn McFarlane Artist

04/05/2026

Yesterday afternoon felt a bit surreal. I was at the launch of Tides in Time in the Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen, celebrating 25 years of Pushing Out The Boat. It’s a beautiful anthology gathering some of the best poetry, prose and art published in the magazine over the years.

And there were people walking around with copies… with my painting Soaring High on the front cover. Another first for me and it still feels a little unreal.

It was lovely hearing contributors read their poems and short stories from the edition. Such a warm, friendly atmosphere and a real honour to be part of it and to join the other artists and writers at the afternoon’s launch.

A very special moment in my creative life.

27/04/2026

Still smiling after the opening afternoon of my solo show at Firefly Gallery. The sun was shining, the doors were open and such a lovely mix of people wandered in. Old friends, family, fellow artists and brand new faces too.

Thank you to everyone who came along and filled the place with chat, laughter and good energy. The conversations were the best part. I spent Sunday recovering from all the prep that went into getting everything ready.

The show is on until Saturday 16 May, open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 to 4pm at 105 North Street, Bo’ness, if you fancy popping in.

13/04/2026

New Perspectives — Solo Show!
25 April – 16 May 2026

With just under two weeks to go I stepped into the chaos of my studio and realised it was time for a tidy up. My desk was a bit of a muddle, brushes needing washed and a stack of framed pieces waiting to be photographed before being wrapped for the trip to the gallery. Full prep mode.

So much of the prep happens behind the scenes. The planning, the organising, the little decisions, and the cataloguing of every piece. The website will be updated too. It’s the kind of background work that takes time, but it all needs to be done.

NEW PERSPECTIVES began with the most ordinary thing in the room. Cardboard. The kind you usually unpack and forget about. I kept mine and let it spark the whole exhibition.

The work grew from layers, fragments, painted papers, little shapes and all the curious moments that happen when you follow an idea and see where it goes. Some pieces turned out quiet. Others leaned into play. All of them came from noticing the everyday.

If you want to see where the cardboard took me, the exhibition opens on Saturday 25 April, 12 to 4pm at Firefly Gallery, 105 North Street, Bo’ness. Come have a wander

25/03/2026

I’ve written about that moment when you look at an abstract painting and think, “I’m not sure what this is… but I like it.”

It’s a relaxed chat about why abstract art doesn’t need to be decoded — it’s more about how it makes you feel.

You can read it on the blog.

I used to work as a scientific illustrator, so accuracy was a big part of my day, capturing things exactly as they were and paying close attention to the details. As a graphic designer, I worked to precise briefs with clear commercial goals behind every project. Both jobs were creative but they came...

28/11/2025

I'm delighted to have two paintings from my Still Life series included in the Firefly Gallery's Christmas Exhibition in Bo'ness. The show opens tomorrow, Saturday 29th November and it's brimming with beautiful work by a whole host of artists. If you are in or around Bo'ness , pop along for a festive browse and soak up the creativity - it's a lovely way to step into the season.

The opening event for our Xmas exhibition is from 1 - 4, tomorrow, 29th November, all welcome 🌲 🎄 🌲 🌲

26/09/2025

NOTE TO SELF: Let inspiration settle. that's how my work becomes mine.

The quiet stages of making.

It starts with a spark—something seen, felt and remembered. A colour, a shape, something familiar.

I gather it in, let it sit. Not rushing. Just letting it brew.

That’s the incubation bit. Where things stew and settle and start to make sense. My kind of sense.

Then comes the making. Layer by layer, choice by choice.

Until the work begins to speak in its own voice.

Which really is mine.

❤️

25/09/2025

NOTE TO SELF: Like it? Great. Now ask why

I’ve been noticing how easy it is to say I like it and move on.

But when I pause and ask why, something shifts.

Is it the colour? The balance? The way it feels just a little off?

That small question opens up a whole conversation with the work.

It’s not about getting it perfect—it’s about staying curious.

24/09/2025

NOTE TO SELF: Paint first—think later.

A little reminder that when I overthink, the energy drains out of the work.

But when I stop planning and just paint, things shift.
The colours move more freely and the whole piece starts to find its own rhythm.

That’s when it gets interesting.

23/09/2025

NOTE TO SELF: Limits spark invention—that’s when creativity really kicks in.

Sometimes the limitation is a restricted colour palette. Or a format that feels unfamiliar. Or instructions that ask you to work differently.

That’s where new ideas show up. Where problem-solving turns into something personal. Where the work starts to feel more yours.

Turns out, constraints aren’t the problem. They’re the spark. To see differently. To solve creatively. To make work that feels more yours.

#ʟᴏᴠᴇᴡʜᴀᴛʏᴏᴜᴅᴏ

10/09/2025

10/09/2025

Day 10 of our Artist Spotlights for The Spaces We Occupy: Mind and Body. Today, we have Kathryn Mcfarlane. It is Kathryn's first exhibition with us, after a chance conversation in the gallery. We are delighted to have her exhibiting.

Kathryn's work fits so well into this exhibition, as her pieces are not only art, but mementos from her travels. They document the spaces Kathryn occupied on her travels, and highlight the space that they hold in her heart and mind going forward. These multimedia works are vibrant, bold, and tell stories of adventures.

These artworks will then elevate the space that they are showcased, and add more layers to the meaning and connections created through art, as they become part of more lives.

You can view these and other exhibition works in the gallery and on our website.

This exhibition runs until Saturday the 20th of September. The gallery is open Monday-Saturday: 10:00am - 5:30pm. We offer free, no obligation home approval and 12 months of interest-free credit.