A Fife pensioner is to have one last brush with the art world before packing her easel away for good at the spritely age of 86.
Keen amateur artist Anne Dunlop, who has turned her Elie home into an impromptu art gallery each summer for the last 17 years, is to host her final exhibition before retiring.
She has got round the coronavirus social distancing restrictions by moving the exhibition into her porch, allowing the public to visit.
Ann specialises in land and seascapes, often applying paint to canvas using a pallete knife, which she says helps to add texture and movement to her artworks.
She said her summer shows have always proved popular, attracting everyone from locals to tourists and often art lovers just passing through the picturesque coastal village.
Ann, who only took up painting when she joined St Andrews Art Club when she retired at the age of 69, says she is finally calling it a day on the advice of family members and because of the rigours of painting for hours on end.
“I broke my back many decades ago but that was not diagnosed until much later in my life.
“I have no idea of when I did it but suspect it was because I was very keen at sports, in particular tennis and hockey.
“As I get older it really does take its toll so maybe now is the right time to call it a day.”
Ann admits she counts her blessings every day for having moved from Glasgow to Elie in 1979 and draws inspiration from the colour and beauty of the Fife coastline.
“We are so lucky with what we have around us and I try to capture that in much of my paintings though I’ve also painted many further afield across Scotland, including the Islands such as Skye and Harris, which also prove popular with the public,” she said.
Ann plans to keep her exhibition running until at least the August 11 and may even extend it into September because it is her last.
“Everyone is invited and can just turn up when they want. They’ll know they are at the right place as soon as they see the porch display.”
Ann Dunlop’s summer exhibition continues at Roseville, Links Place, Elie.
