Former Inverness art teacher's Highland inspiration
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A former Inverness art teacher has turned his hand to turning out detailed illustrations of the Highlands during lockdown.
Jack Spowart (28) was travelling the world before Covid restrictions forced him to return to the city.
Mr Spowart, who lives in Milton of Leys, was an art teacher in Millburn Academy before heading off for a “gap year” with his partner in 2019.
“I love capturing in drawings what I see, in the most recognisable of places,” he said. “I like to work on the wee things I see, and I make a detailed record of that. The drawings are in fine detail and I am often asked if I use a ruler, but I don’t tend to. I tend to work free hand, focusing on each small area of the drawing.”
Among his recent works are renderings of Fyrish in Ross-shire, the Glenfinnan Viaduct and numerous Scottish mountains.
“I consider being outside a natural and significant part of my life,” he said. “I take inspiration from the changes and movement in the raw environment that surrounds us.
“I hope to inspire others to advocate that respect and build a deeper understanding of wild places.”
Describing his working method, he said: “I begin by making a pencil sketch on an A4 size artist’s piece of paper and then I use a thin ink pen to bring my work together.
“I work for around seven or eight hours each day.”
He added: “I hoped originally to return to teaching after travelling, but of course there are no teaching jobs in my field being advertised at the moment, so I have been doing a very enjoyable job as a taxi driver.
“I now take children to various schools around the city, and then pick them up at the end of the day.
“That means I have the whole day to myself and I am able to use that time to concentrate on my art.”
Mr Spowart said his dad Ian, who died two years ago, was a major inspiration.
“He took me to all over Scotland, and he shared his love of the country with me,” he said.
“I am now sharing that love of the land with others.”
Mr Spowart’s work can be viewed online at https://www.jackspowart.com/
