MORE than half a dozen artists are coming together for a special exhibition on the outskirts of Haddington.

Colstoun House is showcasing the work of eight artists, who have all attended the Colstoun Artist Residency.

The works of Raffael Bader, James Dearlove, Lara Cobden, Suhayla H, Marina Renee Cemmick, Joe Grieve, Angelique Nagovskaya and Jen Hitchings are being shown in the historic venue.

Each year, Colstoun Arts invites six to eight artists to spend a month or more at its home, Colstoun House, where they produce a body of work inspired by the house and grounds.

Colstoun Arts works with the artists to provide learning and development opportunities, introduce them to industry experts, and provide them with guidance.

The Colstoun Arts experience goes beyond the traditional residency, welcoming artists to become part of life on the estate, experiencing the highs and lows of normal life while also providing a dedicated secluded environment with top-class studio facilities.

Beginning in 2022, the residency programme is designed to develop the careers of a handful of artists each year, and provide an opportunity for established artists to take a break.

It is hoped that, over time, the alumni of the programme will begin to help one another and provide meaningful contributions to landscape, nature-inspired and British art.

Mackie Sinclair-Parry, director of Colstoun Arts, said: “The variety of work created by our selected artists and the impact the seasons here at Colstoun have played on their work is astonishing.

“This exhibition serves as the conclusion on a residency experience we hope will stick with artists for the rest of their lives and provide benefits across business acumen as well as artistic practice.

“Art has always been a part of Colstoun’s history. When you look at the walls and see hundreds of years of art collected through the generations, it becomes obvious why we should create a sustainable, progressive way in which to collect contemporary art and present it to the wider population.

“It started with the Colstoun Artist Residency but is now being expanded to include public exhibitions and collaborations with external galleries and museums.”

The parkland will be open to the public, and the dining room will be open to members of the public for tea and coffee.