Carol Taylor is currently involved in collaborations with scientists who "explore and explain the world of plants". She believes it is vital to explore ways in which artists, scientists and community can work together to combat pollution and raise awareness of sustainability and other environmental issues.

Carol has spent twenty years in collaboration with her brother, Dr. Andy Taylor, who is a mycologist and research scientist at the Macaulay Institute of Land Use Research in Aberdeen. This collaboration between art and science culminated in two exhibitions during 2003 and 2004 at Linnaeus’ Hammarby in Sweden, the manor house bought by Carl Linneaus in 1758 and now owned and conserved by Uppsala University.

A research exchange year at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh gave Carol the opportunity to lay down a fundamental research base which will inform her work for many years. This research exchange led to collaboration with soil scientist Dr Rebekka Artz and again with Dr Andy Taylor at the Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen, and this exhibition “Beauty and the Bog” presents a selection of this work created in 2009.

Carol’s recent work consists of a range of different images including drawings and paintings which may incorporate dried plant specimens; black and white digital photographs of dissected plant specimens taken through a scanning electron microscope; coloured and manipulated digital photographs; and limited edition wood engravings. Media are mixed, and include oils, watercolour, acrylic, photography, and collage.

A rich and varied CV includes both Diploma and Post-Graduate Diploma in Art (Sculpture) from Edinburgh College of Art and Master of Arts (Painting) from the Royal College of Art, London. Carol was a lecturer in sculpture at Edinburgh College of Art and is still an art educator, organising various teaching groups in life drawing, painting, and working with clay near her home in beautiful rural South Lanarkshire.

This fascinating exhibition runs from Saturday 30 January until Thursday 4 March; download a copy of the invitation complete with a map by clicking here.


Artist Talk: Carol Taylor and
Dr Rebekka Artz
Thursday 18 February 7pm - 9pm

Dr Artz (Senior Research Scientist at the MacAulay Land Use Research Institute) will talk about her recent research on the Carnwath Moss bog and Carol will explain the inspiration behind her paintings which are based on this research. Wine and nibbles. Tickets £10.

The event will take place in the restaurant adjoining the gallery and we invite you to join us for drinks and nibbles and a thoroughly entertaining evening. Tickets cost £10 and can be obtained in the gallery, or send an email or call us and we'll keep you a seat.