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Find out more about the events and exhibitions we offer.
Find out more about the events and exhibitions we offer.
Find out more about the events and exhibitions we offer.
Sense Scotland regularly exhibits and showcases the work of artists we support in a variety of venues and settings.
We also regularly hold participatory events where everyone is invited to get involved. Please click on the links below to find out further information about our current and past events.
Re-discover is an exhibition of work by artists supported by Sense Scotland.
The exhibition encompasses work created in Sense Scotland art sessions across the country.
The diversity of 2D, 3D and film work on display showcases the talent of a wide range of artists working in a variety of media.
Please note that some of the artworks below contain adult humour, and parental discretion is advised.
Acrylic paintings on paper
Stephen first started attending art sessions at Sense Scotland with James in April 2015. Stephen’s last in-person group session was in March 2020 and Stephen returned to in-person art sessions in July 2022. Stephen works mostly using paint on paper. Stephen uses a technique of building layers of colour using brush strokes with arcs and curves to create a series of colourful abstracts that are full of movement.
Painted paper sculpture
Shazia has recently started art sessions with Gayle again. She enjoys painting and making big exuberant works. Shazia made this painted paper sculpture by using water paper and treating it like a cloth, filling it with paint and water, squeezing, patting and ringing it out; manipulating the paper to create sculptural forms, which has resulted in this finished piece. Shazia also likes to work in smaller and more delicate ways including threading to create jewellery pieces for herself.
Collagraph print
Alan’s collagraph print has been created by tearing, cutting and sticking materials to create a textured plate that is put through the printing press with ink. Alan has been attending one to one art sessions at Sense Scotland for the past year, but previously accessed group art sessions internally. Art is a good way for Alan to connect with past memories from time spent with friends at Sense Scotland.
Mixed media painting
This textured mixed media artwork demonstrates Rachel’s enjoyment of sensory art materials such as paint and paper collage. This piece was created in an exuberant and playful manner that is typical of Rachel’s creative style. Rachel loves to use her hands to apply the paint and applied many layers and colours to this piece. The tissue stars are a favourite of Rachel’s and she enjoys the movement that they create when dropped from a height onto a surface.
‘That is Amazing’
This series of marbled ink experiments were created in a collaborative manner by Rachel and Olivia. They are good friends who enjoy using the art room as a social place to have fun and create together. On this particular day we made sensory bags using a wide variety of tactile materials including shaving foam. Ink was later added to the foam to create relief printmaking in a variety of vibrant colours applied by both artists. This process is quick and surprising and was enjoyed by all.
Watercolours on paper
Andrew first started attending art sessions at Sense Scotland with James in April 2015. Andrew’s last in-person group session was in March 2020. Since November 2020, Andrew has been regularly attending online art sessions via Zoom and on Teams with James. Andrew is a very confident, experienced, and globally exhibited artist. Andrew his own individual style and works in pencil or paint, working on scenes from the Harry Potter, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings movies. Andrew first sketches the detail, and then uses paints to complete his work.
‘Music 1’ & ‘Music 2’, two scanned drawings
Pen drawings on paper
Brian first started working with James online in April 2021 via Teams and now regularly work together via Zoom. Brian mostly draws using coloured pens in his sketchbooks, drawing cars, people, often working on top of his work to create layered drawings. At times, Brian responds to drawings shown onscreen by James, with James then responding to Brian’s drawings he shares onscreen. This often creates a drawn dialogue where Brian and James’ drawings develop alongside each other.
‘Bobbins’, mixed media sculpture
Brian is an experienced artist who has been creating for years. His main discipline is drawing but with this particular piece, Brian demonstrates his multi-disciplinary skill set with a sculpture.
Clay and plastic sculpture
Hayley’s delicate sculptural works often hide their destructive beginnings. Her works can involve crushing smashing and cutting materials like glass, metal, plaster and shells in order to prepare them for casting and firing. She also works with found objects from the local area, making work out of objects and materials discarded by others. Hayley preps and patiently transforms her materials into sculptures. Her patience and sense of fun come together in her practice resulting in some beautiful and intriguing pieces.
Hanging sculpture
Micco has created a hanging sculpture by manipulating and deconstructing objects, which he has bent, threaded and assembled together.
‘Autumn Leaves’
‘Jelly Jamm’
‘Good Painting’
Peter has explored a variety of media in the art room including printmaking, drawing and painting. Peter is open to learning new things and continually progresses by exploring and developing new skills. The art room provides Peter with opportunities to express his personal interests and to contribute to projects and events that are happening at TouchBase Ayrshire. Peter particularly enjoys using paint and has been working in diverse techniques as he discovers new techniques such as free flow paint pouring.
Glazed ceramic heads
Sandy and Gayle worked outside in Sandy’s Garden making artwork during lockdown. Using clay, Sandy made sculptures for the garden. During the lockdown Sandy was very isolated, and his art sessions became really important markers in his week. Sandy enjoys making art to decorate his home, and to share with the people he loves.
Painting
Christie is a young energetic artist who enjoys experimenting with a range of materials like clay, collage, pastels and paint. Christie enjoys choosing colours, mixing paint and experimenting with mark making and printmaking.
Wooden boats
Marshall has been working with James since early 2018. Marshall has a shed loaded with wood working tools where he works with recycled materials, such as palettes, old bits of flooring, and off cuts, to create wooden sculptures. Marshall has created a series of boats, inspired by his journeys on the boat to visit family in Dunoon.
Painting
Ann is an accomplished artist and has a natural ability to translate whatever her subject matter is into beautiful stylized images.
Ann likes to draw and paint from reality and is happiest with a cup of tea in one hand and a paintbrush in the other. She loves to experiment with colour and line and some of her favorite materials to use are pastels, watercolours and inks. Recently, Ann has been experimenting with using glass, creating striking pieces from initial sketches that are bold in shape, form and character. Ann’s artwork has a distinctive rhythm and her eye for colour is excellent.
Discovery – Acrylic painting on canvas board
Digital drawing series
Mark is an artist and a huge Star Wars fan. Mark mostly works using silks and oil, but also tries to work in other mediums like watercolours, acrylics, pencil drawing and digital drawing. Mark has complex needs, has Autism/Asperger’s, and a Cerebral Visual Impairment. This means Mark sees things differently from “normal”. Marks art enables him to explore his thoughts and feelings about the world that he lives in.
‘AC/DC Project’
Paper, pen, colour, pencils photocopies and video
Clare has used her love of Heavy Rock music, most specifically AC/DC to create a series of portrait inspired artworks. She began by doing a series of drawings of the whole group and then enlarged and dissected those images to create new works reflecting a positive/ negative version of her heroes.
Clare also filmed a series of performative collages, including interpretations of body parts, in response to the portraits and the music.
‘Doctor Who Project’
Mixed media (upcycled materials / found objects)
Peter is fanatical about anything relating to Doctor Who, so naturally he has created a series artworks based around this passion. Firstly, he created a model of the Tardis and then made a large sketch of the interior of the most current Tardis. Peter used this as the inspiration to then create a fantastic sculptural diorhama. Finally, he created a model new character, a “Drone Dalek”. The majority of the work has been created from upcycled / found objects.
Acrylic paintings
Stephen likes to paint using acrylic paints on paper and has been a regular at art sessions with James since 2015. Stephen started with Sense Scotland after his mum found out about the art programmes. Stephen also regularly attends music sessions and is a fan of pop music. He also likes movie soundtracks especially Once Upon a Time in America’s Debra’s theme.
Stephen likes to paint. Stephen likes movies, particularly comedy and serious dramas. He also likes River City and is a fan of Bill Oddie, a fan of John Hurt, and The Elephant Man is his favourite film. Stephen has an encyclopedic knowledge of movies and TV shows which he often shares at art sessions.
Acrylic on canvas
This artwork was created by the group using free flow acrylic using a “spin art” device which rotates as the paint is dropped/poured onto the canvas. This creates a fun and surprising process which is dynamic and ever-changing. Individuals chose a colour to add without having a set outcome. The group regularly make arts and crafts together and are a very creative bunch.
‘Number 11’
‘Largs Train’
Ross is very interested in various forms of transport and enjoys depicting them in both drawings and in 3D models. Ross enjoys using cardboard and tape to create the models and paints them before adding additional details. Ross works from photographs and his imagination. Ross is also making a ferry model and an airplane using his skills in constructing models.
Framed plaster cast
Amy is an artist who is interested in both art and craft. She has a strong sense of colour and drive to create, this leads her to work with a wide range of materials and mediums. Most recently she has been working with slip cast clay and glass.
Mixed media painting
Vases with hand-drawn patterns
Mixed media painting
Carly is enthusiastic about many artforms and means of creating work. Carly loves to draw and paint on various surfaces and has experimented with many textures and both 2D and 3D objects. Carly creates distinctive swirling forms and enjoys using a variety of pens and pencils. She also enjoys painting with both brushes and stamps. Carly appreciates the immediacy of drawing and the sensory elements of touch and sound it provides.
Storytelling Props
Touch Ayrshire were very inspired by the sessions with storyteller Claire McNicoll who visited for several weeks in 2022. During these sessions we made props and costumes and when Claire’s run of sessions ended, TouchBase Ayrshire continued storytelling sessions. These sessions have included various songs and stories including Wind the Bobbin Up, Jelly On a Plate, Room on the Broom and Elf. Props are made in the art room using a variety of materials and then used during the sensory storytelling sessions which are attended by many at TouchBase Ayrshire.
‘TouchBase is Always on the Go’
Mixed media on cardboard
By Sacha Ferguson, Olivia Skimming, Rachel Bell, Hope Templeton, Carly Young, Melak Majmajeri
This collaborative piece involved a collection of techniques and processes including painting, collage and modelling. The artwork is inspired by The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, but has been adapted to show a local landscape which represents the view of Arran from the art room window at TouchBase Ayrshire. Sacha named the artwork and had the idea to include the ferry and rename it as “TouchBase Ardrossan Ferry”. This piece is partly composed of recycled materials. The Impressionist style brushstrokes are created by layering many pieces of painted paper in various colours. The texture is created with tissue paper decoupaged on top of the painted cardboard base. This artwork was also displayed in the local library in Ardrossan.
‘Polluted’, poem and video
Bo is an eclectic musician, songwriter, expressive experimentalist and social commentator. Bo is 11 years old and deafblind.
Here is an excerpt of lyrics from Bo’s climate change song ‘Polluted’ written in response to the recent Cop 26 International Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow. We also have a film of Bo narrating his lyrics from Braille.
‘The Dark Island’ music video
Murray Farquharson is a musician from Dundee who is deafblind. Murray recalls that his Grandpa Farquharson was always playing old recordings of Scottish accordion music around the family home and he and his younger brother, Ewan, who is blind, loved listening to the stirring jigs and reels he played.
This love of accordion music led Murray to start lessons aged 9, tutored by family friend, Jim Grogan. Initially, attempts were made to teach Murray musical notation through Braille. However, Murray said he preferred, “just to feel the notes”.
Jim was a crucial communication partner with Murray conveying the melody, fingering moves, bass lines, and all the subtle nuances and musical dynamics of the instrument. From Jim initially transferring, translating each tune to Murray, in a literal sense, Murray gradually became a skilled, “box-player’ with his own unique style, and his own true musical voice.
Murray’s performance of ‘The Dark Island’ was originally filmed at the theatre show ‘To A Bard’ at Glasgow’s CCA. The legendary Scottish accordionist, composer Phil Cunningham then later added his accompaniment to Murray’s performance, creating an audio-visual online duet.
‘Sing’
Matthew has been attending music therapy sessions since he was 2, he is now 25. He has been working with David at Sense for over 7 years and they have formed a close bond.
Matthew makes music mainly using his voice, and he loves percussion and bass sounds. In their sessions, David and Matthew take turns playing vocalisation games together, Matthew loves hearing his voice echoing and the strong audio feedback from the microphone! Their sessions are full of fun and concentration, and have helped Matthew to express his feelings and emotions. The skills he has learned translate into every day communication with his care team and his family.
‘Super’, 1min 13secs
Callum’s an exciting electronic artist that experiments with sounds, manipulating them to fit his vision. With aspirations to create his own You Tube channel, Callum created themes and art for this during the ARTiculate project.
His enthusiasm for off-beat rhythms, experimental loops and superheroes are all evident in ‘Super’, that brings together his musical theme alongside his visual creations. While ‘Fire Monster’ displays the variations in his work, creating a soundscape from short electronic movements.
‘Fire Monster’, 3mins 8secs
Callum’s an exciting electronic artist that experiments with sounds, manipulating them to fit his vision. With aspirations to create his own You Tube channel, Callum created themes and art for this during the ARTiculate project.
His enthusiasm for off-beat rhythms, experimental loops and superheroes are all evident in ‘Super’, that brings together his musical theme alongside his visual creations. While ‘Fire Monster’ displays the variations in his work, creating a soundscape from short electronic movements.
‘Explosions’, 5mins 24secs
Luke’s featured works were all created through his direction, conducting events through countdowns and dynamic shifts. ‘Explosions’ brings together an array of sounds that Luke enjoys from the spinning of washing machines to the thunder and rainfall of storms. He particularly enjoys loud noises, the buildup of sounds layered upon each other and piercing crescendos.
The energy he gets from music can be seen in his ‘Cheeky Monkey’ piece, adding his voice and excitement to the phrase, while directing where the piece should rise and fall. Controlling the shape of the song through his passion and motion.
‘Cheeky Monkey’, 3mins 54secs
Luke’s featured works were all created through his direction, conducting events through countdowns and dynamic shifts. ‘Explosions’ brings together an array of sounds that Luke enjoys from the spinning of washing machines to the thunder and rainfall of storms. He particularly enjoys loud noises, the buildup of sounds layered upon each other and piercing crescendos.
The energy he gets from music can be seen in his ‘Cheeky Monkey’ piece, adding his voice and excitement to the phrase, while directing where the piece should rise and fall. Controlling the shape of the song through his passion and motion.
‘How Long Will I love Lewis’, 2mins 54secs
Jennifer has been attending Sense Scotland for years, as part of the children’s and families service and now as an artist. She loves to write songs, shaping how they sound and feel by giving direction to her music tutor.
The songs and performances she’d recorded before the pandemic really helped lighten her mood during lockdown & she was eager to create when virtual sessions began.
Jennifer’s aim was to sing in front of her PAs, tutors, something she’d found hard to accomplish previously. The online sessions helped Jennifer gain confidence in her voice, especially when recording her own song lyrics. This in turn helped Jen perform in front of others & create songs for her loved ones.
‘So now is the Question’
Francis is an eclectic artist who enjoys creative self-expression through many artforms, including songwriting, spoken word performance, collage, drama.
Access to the arts and creativity are very important to him.
The shared experience of singing songs together and deconstructing the music and lyrics of favourite songs motivate Francis to express of his personality, and many layers of his identity, within meaningful activities which he naturally relates to.
Clare has used her love of Heavy Rock music, most specifically AC/DC to create a series of portrait inspired artworks. She began by doing a series of drawings of the whole group and then enlarged and dissected those images to create new works reflecting a positive/ negative version of her heroes.
Clare also filmed a series of performative collages, including interpretations of body parts, in response to the portraits and the music.
‘In My Jumper’, 2mins 28secs
A talented young songwriter basing her work on her love of Pokémon & plush toys. Hazel’s ARTiculate journey began performing songs such as ‘Wellerman’ and ‘Roar’, before moving on to explore different ways of expressing natural elements through music.
This then led her to reflect on the things she’s passionate about and express this warmth through lyrical content. While creating melodies to deliver her words and directing the tone of the musical accompaniment.
‘Shake’, 3mins 8secs
Tessa explored various rhythms, tempos and feels through percussive instrumentation during her sessions. Identifying her favourite artists, Fleetwood Mac, George Ezra, Katy Perry, then using their material to match the pulse of their songs. She did this through the use of drums, glockenspiel and her best-loved instrument: the maracas.
‘Keep Shaking’ demonstrates her rhythmic prowess, joyful nature and vocal expression.
‘Uncle Morris’, printed poem and video/audio
Stephen Smith likes to explore and discuss his favourite cinematic moments, emotive film soundtracks, photographs and memories.
He also enjoys reflecting on his family history as told to him by family members and holds precious family photographs, which capture many of these connections, often with ancestors he never met.
Stephen shared a small black and white photo, which he carries daily in his pocket of Uncle Morris and we used the form of a poem/ song to convey Stephen’s deep sense of connection to Morris.
We also recorded a musical composition to underscore Stephen’s narration of the lyrics.
‘Striding For Change’ Video
STRIDE Ayrshire meets every Monday evening in Touchbase. Members love taking part in a variety of activities that are designed to increase life skills and build confidence while making friends with the other STRIDE members. STRIDE is designed to support people between the age of sixteen and nineteen as they prepare for life beyond school or college.
Stride members take responsibility for helping plan, set up and run activities and there is a real sense of ownership by the members. At STRIDE their voices are heard as they build confidence to make choices about their own life.
The young people who make up STRIDE Ayrshire were asked to share buzzwords that they associate with summer. Jill Hargan was employed to work with STRIDE to create illustrations based on their drawings of their chosen words. Paul Honeyman worked with STRIDE to write lyrics based on their chosen words and David Stephen created the audio track using vocals from some of the young people. Photographs and footage of STRIDE’s various activities were edited to create a music video.
‘Night and Day’
The Sensatronics are a group of musicians who love to co-create and perform in mainstream venues across Scotland. The group experiment with home-designed multi-sensory, digital and electronic instruments, covering some of their favourite artists and also creating collaborative soundscapes and songs based on their lives and the world around them.
The Sensatronics have performed at last summer’s major music festival, ‘Doune the Rabbit Hole’ A 3-day major music and arts festival near Callander, as well as Gig Buddies events at Glasgow’s SWG3 and at George Square for Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games cultural events.
Whilst their musical tastes are diverse, their enthusiasm for creating and performing music brings them together. Since forming in 2015 they have compiled a large back catalogue of original material. Their signature style is best described as “atmospheric”, “Experimental” and “dancey”. Their working style is collaboration. Everyone gets their say and their turn to express themselves and be creative. Matthew usually kicks off on the keyboard, John might improvise a vocal on top whilst Dylan freestyles how he’s feeling at the time.
Their friendship has supported each to cope with major life events including loss of family members and the COVID pandemic. Most importantly they have been able to express their emotions without necessarily verbalising them.
‘Lockdown’, printed poem, video/audio
Stephen Blyth is 26 years old and loves music, role-play improvisations and creating his own narrative songs inspired by his favourite pop music. Here he relates his experience of Lockdown through the pandemic and moving into a new house in a different area of Glasgow
‘Polluted’, poem and video
Bo is an eclectic musician, songwriter, expressive experimentalist and social commentator. Bo is 11 years old and deafblind.
Here is an excerpt of lyrics from Bo’s climate change song ‘Polluted’ written in response to the recent Cop 26 International Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow. We also have a film of Bo narrating his lyrics from Braille.
‘Midland Bluebird’, printed poem and video/audio
Alistair Fleming is an artist and musician.
Through his song, ‘Midland Bluebird’, Alistair recalls his teenage memories, practicing with his pals in his bedroom with their blues band, ‘Midland Bluebird’. Alistair named them after the local buses, which stopped just outside his house in Lenzie.
‘Uncle Morris’, printed poem and video/audio
Stephen Smith likes to explore and discuss his favourite cinematic moments, emotive film soundtracks, photographs and memories.
He also enjoys reflecting on his family history as told to him by family members and holds precious family photographs, which capture many of these connections, often with ancestors he never met.
Stephen shared a small black and white photo, which he carries daily in his pocket of Uncle Morris and we used the form of a poem/ song to convey Stephen’s deep sense of connection to Morris.
We also recorded a musical composition to underscore Stephen’s narration of the lyrics.
Our talented performers have entertained audiences all over Scotland.
