BARRA McNEILL GALLERY
Paintings by Ann McNeill (‘Bridget’), Scotland’s foremost historical artist.
Funded by Historic Scotland Ann McNeill was commissioned to make a series of paintings to celebrate the full Gathering of Clan MacNeil in Barra in1997
Ann paints in acrylics, a medium which gives vibrancy to her paintings.
14 paintings from the exhibition are on display at the Isle of Barra Gift Shop.
Some of the paintings on show:-
STOLEN IDENTITY – Dearbh-aithne air a ghoid
“The people of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland were driven from their land to make way for sheep in the Clearances of 1770 –1870, their homes and their boats were burned and their identity stolen.”
LEAVING – A’Fagail
“Setting sail for foreign shores they left their spirit behind””
ANN MACNEIL’S WEDDING – Posaidh Anna NicNeill
“No matter the suffering brought on by the Clearances the Hebridean folk still celebrated – with music, dance and laughter.”
BANNOCKBURN – THE AFTERMATH
“of the battle in 1314 when Robert the Bruce with an army of 5500 veteran
infantry and 1500 small folk defeated the great host of Edward of England
who outnumbered him 5 to 1 and so secured Scotland’s Independence.”
POPPIES OF PEACE AT BANNOCKBURN
“Warlike traditions of the clans now at rest after the battle on 25 th June
1314 in which Robert the Bruce defeated the mighty army of Edward to win back Scotland’s independence.”
KISMUL CASTLE
“Ancestral home of Clan MacNeil. Handed over in the year 2000 to the care of Historic Scotland by the 46 th Chief, Ian Roderick MacNeil of Barra for 1000 years for an annual rental of £1 and a bottle of whisky.”
MACNEIL PIPER ON THE BATTLEMENTS
“Hear all you people and listen o ye nation– the great MacNeil of Barra having taken his meal, the princes may now dine.”
Bho’n a tha an t-Urramach MacNeill Bharraigh a dinnear a ghabail faodaidh gach prionnsa ithe a’nis,”
KISMUL GALLEY Birlinn Chiosmul
“The pirateship of the MacNeils of Barra also known as the Black Galley. Spuinneadaireachd Clann MhicNeill Bharraigh, cuideachd “A’Bhirlinn Dhubh”
Additionally available are prints and cards of 2 major new works by Ann
specially painted by Ann to commemorate the 700 th anniversary of the unlawful execution of Scotland’s national hero Sir William Wallace, executed on the site of Smithfield Market in London on 25 th August 1305.
SCOTLAND RESURGENT Saor Alba
ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM Air an t-slighe fhuilteach gu Saorsa
“Wallace, fighting in the West to regain Scotland’s freedom and De Moray in the East join forces at Stirling Brig to defeat Edward and drive the English invaders back home. 11 th September 1297.
“Wallace fought, not for personal gain, but only for Scotland.
” Sir William Wallace born Ellerslie circa 1270 Judicially murdered 1305
His example, heroism and devotion inspired those who came after him to win victory from defeat and his memory remains for all time a source of pride, honour and inspiration to his countrymen
ABOUT OUR PRINTS
Our prints are on high quality canvas, printed by the Giclee process. This method has been specially developed to allow the artist to make the fine adjustments necessary to ensure the original is faithfully reproduced.
Giclee prints on canvas in cardboard tube £65, p&p £2.50.
Because the originals vary in size and proportions the sizes of our prints vary slightly but are approximately 330x270 .The Piper print is 390x270 and is priced at £75
Also available as cards with envelope, mount for framing, and text (in the same quality Giclee printing) £6.99 each+ p&p 75p (1-5 cards)
Giclee prints and cards of all these paintings are available at the gift shop or by post. Eight of the original paintings from the exhibition are on display at our Isle of Barra Gift Shop at Brevig in Barra with true to life full size framed reproductions of six more. To view the complete range of our paintings from Ann’s Barra exhibition see www.clanmacneilsouvenirs.co.uk , Barra McNeill Gallery Prints and cards are available from all featured paintings.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
.Originally acclaimed as a landscape painter exhibiting at the Syon Gallery in London, Ann returned to Scotland to turn her energies to interpreting events in Scotland’s history.
She attracted the attention of Historic Scotland who were pleased to commission and sponsor Ann to produce paintings for an exhibition to celebrate the 1997 full gathering of Clan MacNeil in Barra
As well as the Giclee prints on canvas at approx 330x270, full size reproductions, also on canvas, are available and if you have room in your vehicle you can take home a full size reproduction framed.
Some smaller size reproductions are available in mounts but the most popular way to take one home (and the easiest) is rolled in a tube.
Discuss framing with the proprietor who can recommend a good reasonably priced framer (Glasgow) and suggest colours of mounts for framing to show your purchase off at its best.
All paintings copyright Bridget Ann McNeill
For more paintings on show at the isle of Barra Gift Shop see www.clanmacneilsouvenirs.co.uk,/Barra McNeill Gallery