Gill Stewart
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I have always felt a real affinity with the West Coast of Scotland and The Hebrides. Finally, after a number of rewarding years in Social Work, I realised my dream of living amid the wild beauty of these places by opening The Oystercatcher Gallery in Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula. Here I threw myself into the world of art, crafts and flowers... and building a business based on my strengths in styling and identifying the 'next big thing' in gifts, crafts and homeware.
My husband George continued working in Edinburgh at first, spending weekends in Kintyre until he too was able to give up the life of an underwriter to pursue the artist's life. Our gallery won a Business of the Year award after 5 years, by which time I was being recognised as a creative florist, which led to work for weddings and events. In 2012, having sold 'The Oystercatcher Gallery' premises and moved north to Kilmartin in Mid Argyll, I formed 'Gill Stewart Flowerscape' to focus on the flower side of the business, which had been growing steadily. A move to County Wicklow in Ireland, allowed for an expansion of the wedding and events floristry, and I became the recommended wedding florist for Powerscourt, the prestigious house and gardens near Dublin. Returning to Kilmartin in late 2005, saw continuing work for weddings and events large and small across Scotland All during this time I was developing my artwork, with a passion for colour and an expressive style. I took on work as a wedding organiser for an Argyll venue, alongside my other interests. However, much as I enjoyed meeting with brides, grooms, their families and friends, I found the work too restrictive and eventually tiring. By this time my business had become 'Love Dove Cottage', which morphed into Love Dove Studio, a joining of 'Love Dove Cottage' and George's 'Dove Cottage Studio'. In late 2018 we took on new premises in Lochgilphead; a hugely enjoyable time creating art and offering workshops and gatherings as part of the Colchester Square community of businesses. After the pandemic and subsequent economic downturn we moved our studio to Dove Cottage in Kilmartin; our garden overlooking upper Kilmartin Glen where we can easily mix gardening, gatherings, painting and writing. I continue to work on the occasional event styling, but my focus is mostly on painting, particularly in acrylics. May 2024
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