Kate MacKay MA Fine Art
eminateart@gmail.com
University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh College of Art 1999-2004
MA Fine Art Drawing and Painting
Founded Alchemy Arts 2004 devising creative projects and initiatives engaging diverse audiences in the arts and bringing permanent art into the community.
My practice fuses; drawing and painting, community collaboration, illustration and narrative, nature and upcycling. These elements take turns at being in the foreground, but all are present throughout my work. I approach each project as a journey of development and am excited to find new ways to connect with others creatively.
Recent Projects:
Moray Polaris - 2020-date Lead Artist on a moray wide community art project. Bringing people together through isolation to capture traces of the land for residents in care homes.
Mindful Creations - 2020 Visual artist and writer developing creative activity packs to be sent out to isolated and disadvantaged families during covid 19.
Starcatchers – 2019 Visual artist and scenic designer on a piece of theatre for parents and babies. Exploring isolation of early parenthood as characterised by the local coastal landscape.
Westburn CAN – 2017-2018 Project Co-ordinator for a community arts project centred around Whale Arts Centre community garden.
Art in Healthcare – 2017-2018 Artist Facilitator for arts workshops working with people affected by mental health.
Eyemouth Sound – 2015-2017 Director and producer of a youth music initiative based in Eyemouth.
Edinburgh Art Festival Explorers – 2013-2015 Director and producer of, the first creative engagement commission for the Edinburgh Art Festival.
Journey of 1000 Wings – 2012-2016 Creative Director - A multimedia community art installation engaging 15collaborations from across the globe, exhibited at Summerhall Edinburgh, Queens Hall Edinburgh and South Bank Centre London.
Peter Potter Gallery – 2016 Lead Artist -Residency at Olive Bank Children and Family Centre developing a permanent interactive art piece for children with contributions from staff and vulnerable families.
Memory Lane – 2014 Lead Artist – development of public artwork and an illustrated booklet and map depicting living memories of the Leith community.
Creative Pathways – 2012-2014 Lead Artist – Development and delivery of a fashion project working with young adults experiencing barriers to work and education.
Into Film – 2014/15 Producer and Director – Development and facilitation of a 10-week practical film course working with young people experiencing barriers to work and education.
Resource for Life – 2012-13 Consultant artist and facilitator – Developing and implementing, a series of curriculum's for use in schools in areas of poverty.
Hide and Sikh – 2012 Illustrator – Commissioned by MYCOPP to illustrate a graphic novel that had been written by a group of young female young carers from the Edinburgh Sikh community.
Fruitmarket Gallery – 2013 Development and delivery of a series of workshops to engage diverse audiences in contemporary art exhibitions.
Artlink – 2010 Imagined Journeys – Lead Artist. Collaborating with a writer to devise and develop an art project on the theme with patients in a dialysis ward. Working creatively with physical and mental challenges to engagement, we created a hand bound artists book with personal and unique contributions from patients.
Etchings – copper plate etchings created between 2008-2012 at the Edinburgh Printmakers and exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, Mall Galleries, out of the Blue Art Trust, Framed Gallery, Regent Gallery and Edinburgh printmakers.