A contemporary Man

with Athole Murray Fleming

I have spent many nights in Frames Contemporary Art Gallery in Victoria Street, Perth. These nights span back over some twelve years or so, and often included the taking of red wine and the spending of money, and always the excitement and pleasure of seeing so many great works of contemporary Scottish art.

So, I have known Gallery owner Hugh Goring for quite some time now, and I thought that it was time to have a chat with him about the art scene in Scotland and Perthshire.

Our venue was an easy choice. 63 Tay Street is a contemporary Scottish restaurant now run by Scott and Penny Edwards who also own The Parklands Hotel. And with the Kitchen being run by Chef Graeme Pallister, I knew we would be in excellent hands.

On arriving at our venue, we were warmly welcomed and shown to our table. It was a quiet day in Perth and the sun was shining, so the scene was set for a relaxing interview, and so it turned out.

As we were handed our menu we ordered an Aperitif, this being a most refreshing Summer Presecco with fresh nectarine. Perfect to get the gastric juices flowing. Before we began our interview I noticed the extensive wine selection on offer. With over one hundred and eighty two choices and a very affordable range, there are no excuses for not enjoying yourself in 63 Tay Street. My guest ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blanc 2005 and I opted for the Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz from Skuttlebutt. With a location like that it had to be interesting…and both wines were indeed enjoyed to the full throughout our meal.

As we were pondering our menu I asked Hugh the first question of the day.

I want to know what got him first interested in contemporary art?

I was living in Edinburgh in around 1976, before I got married, I worked for a picture framer and I enjoyed the art scene and the festival. I got to meet artists like Richard DeMarco and Tom Wilson who now runs The Open Eye Gallery. I was really inspired by these people. The Edinburgh art scene was getting off the ground and I became a member of The Edinburgh Art Group along with the likes of Tom Wilson, Lys Hansen etc. Through exhibitions in Henderson’s Gallery for example, I would meet exhibiting artists and experienced the buying of art.

At this point we decided to place our lunch order.

For starters Hugh selected the Warmed smoked Scrabster haddock with a chilled vine ripened tomato salad, while I chose the Bittersweet duck leg salad with sesame, orange and watercress.

For mains Hugh opted for Roast fillet of sea bass, spiced lentils, cured salmon and cucumber linguine, and I went for Griddled Toulouse sausage, boudin noir with soft polenta and sauce lyonaise.

Our puddings were Scottish and French cheeses from Lymkilns cheesemonger for Hugh and I had to try the Fig and date pudding with butterscotch sauce.

So back to the interview…I asked Hugh about setting up his own gallery and why he chose Perth?

Well, I got married in 1979 and trying to buy a house or a flat even then, was expensive. As my wife had lived in Perth before, she suggested a day trip and I realised on that trip that there was a niche in the market foe a bespoke picture framing service. Perth was very much an ‘antique’ centre in those days and not really that well served for framing as such. So we opened our framing business in Canal Street before moving to our current place in Victoria Street in 1992 to expand a little with a gallery side of the business. We were Perth’s first gallery promoting the contemporary scene. I sometime thought that I was mad doing this in Perth, buy hey, we’re still here!!

Quite right I thought, and what about the starters then?

Hugh: Beautiful. Light, and totally melt in the mouth.

For myself: The duck was simply devine and the subtleness of the fruit was masterly, but then again, I knew the Chef could cook!!

Well satisfied with our starters and looking forward to the main dish, I wondered how sustainable as art gallery was these days and how Hugh made Frames work?

Art has come more into public focus in the last ten years. Every homes magazine now must have an art section or column, and this is where we tend to advertise our exhibition events nowadays. We have over 800 people on our mailing lists, so this helps us to keep in touch with those we know to be art buyers. The interent now is a complete ‘must’. We were the very first Art Gallery in Scotland to have our own website, and such was the interest, we were even featured as a news story on Grampian TV when we launched it.

On line exhibitions also really make a big difference with many paintings pre-sold before opening night. This is great for the Gallery, the buyer and the artists who gets to see red spots against their work on the night. The internet can be a win, win, win situation!!

I then thought about the other side of running an art gallery, like taking risks?

I do take risks because I believe in art. Rather than running the gallery as a cold business, art is an aesthetic living thing; it is of the heart as well as the mind. I am always a bit sceptical of galleries who sell huge amounts of work. Art should never be too popular – without being elitist, there has to be a balance.

Building our rear extension was a risk. But that was the best thing we ever did, and really opened up our gallery area. I also get great pleasure from introducing new artists to the public and we have had some great successes recently with Jane Cruickshank, Lucy Mitchell and Clare Harkess for example.

Jane’s last exhibition sold 21 out of 23 paintings and that is fantastic, and I know that you and Christina now have six of Jane’s paintings!!!….

I nodded, knowing that I may have more too!!!