Last Minute

As artists we have a reputation for being last minute . . . I know we, Dave and Gill Hunt are . . . and there have been many times that we have seen midnight preparing work to go on display the next day. Also as Membership Secretary for POS it is always interesting to watch the last minute rush as you guys suddenly remember that the deadline for POS is only 24 hours away.


But I wonder if any of you can beat this for being last minute . . . at last year's Open Evening of the Taster Exhibition at Blairgowrie the night before POS kicked off I was chatting to Elspeth Collier - I am sure many of you know her - she has been very active in POS and was on the committee when POS was born and also last year - this year she is taking a well earned rest . . . Elspeth and I were discussing getting ready and being last minute for Perthshire Open Studio . . . then Elspeth very casually announced that . . .'of course my husband is still building my studio as we speak!!!!!!!' Cake crumbs sprayed everywhere (and it was a good cake too) I looked at her open mouthed - not a good look when you have been eating cake . . . But Berlimey what can you say - that really is last minute and for NOW Elspeth has the Last Minute award from Perthshire Open Studio - well she would if we had one - but  . . . we don't . . . unless someone wants to make us one - last minute of course.


SO does Elspeth deserve the last minute award can she hold her head and her non-existent award up high . . . or do you have a story to top hers??????


If you do email your Last Minute Story to info@perthshireopenstudios.co.uk


Here is Elspeth's Story and why she currently holds the award.


It’s that time of year again – the sun is shining and I’m thinking about getting organized for Perthshire Open Studios. (I hear our Chairperson, Dave Murton, already has 30 new paintings ready for the event, but we can’t all be that efficient!) However, I am determined not to leave everything to the last minute again. Last year I decided in July that my 6ft x 4ft shed studio just wasn’t big enough for all the visitors I was hoping for. A trawl of the net uncovered a bargain priced log cabin and “Build a new studio” went to the top of my to-do list.  In August I placed the order; we levelled the ground and put in the foundations; but it was not until a week before the start of POS 2009 that the kit finally arrived. Time was fast running out but there is nothing like a deadline for producing results. The day before the opening of POS, the floor was laid and the last piece of roofing felt nailed down.


My Pink Pigeon Studio (there are pigeons in our garden and the front of the studio is bright pink) is now a fantastic space to work in and I am able to explore and experiment with the different techniques and media that I like to use to create my artworks.




Pink Pigeon Studio  . . .