About the Artist

Nicola McInally

Artist Statement

Autobiography, landscape and drawings form the basis of my artwork.

The landscapes around me, alongside memories from across Scotland, are integral to my practice. Recollected places featured in my work include views across Fife and the Lothians, the Ochil Hills which were the backdrop to my formative years, and the wilds of the West Coast of Scotland. Layered elements in my work reflect the joy and reassurance I find in shimmering reflections, ever-changing skies, and unexpected bursts of colour.

As a painter and printmaker, I enjoy merging both mediums together and am fascinated by the various processes used within printmaking. In my prints, layers of painted paper applied through the chine-collé process are held together by a flow of rhythmic mark-making.

Recently, I have been creating larger-scale drawings that explore how engaging with our natural surroundings, and the use of memory to focus on patterns and flows of nature can help regulate emotions. Across my work, recurring patterns move between calm, meditative forms and energetic lines, reflecting the dramatic contrasts of the Scottish landscape and the memories I hold within it.

Biography

Nicola McInally (b.1977, Stirling) graduated in 2001 from Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, with a BA (Hons) Fine Art, specialising in Painting. After developing her practice for several years, she received a Visual Artist Craft Makers Award from Creative Scotland, which led to her membership at Fife Dunfermline Printmakers Workshop (FDPW), to explore etching techniques.

Nicola is an elected Professional Artist Member of both the Society of Scottish Artists (SSA) and Visual Arts Scotland (VAS). She has exhibited widely across Scotland, including a solo exhibition at Grampian Hospitals Art Trust and selected group exhibitions at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh, and Aberdeen Art Gallery.

In recent years, her work has been selected for the Curated Hang at Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair in London and her studio practice was featured in Pressing Matters magazine. In 2025, Nicola received Edinburgh Printmakers’ Print Day in May award, which led to a visiting artist residency at their studio earlier this year. Nicola continues to be an active member of FDPW and works between the print workshop and her Outerspaces studio in Dunfermline.

CV

Upcoming

Outwith Festival, Fife Dunfermline Printmakers Workshop members show, Abbot House Dunfermline, 2 - 6 Sept 2026

The Director’s Cut, Imprint Art Fair online exhibition, throughout Sept 2026

2026

Future Folklore: The Art and Craft of Storytelling, Visual Arts Scotland, Maclaurin Gallery, Rozelle Estate, Ayr

Society of Scottish Artists 127th Annual Exhibition, The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh Visiting Artist Residency, Edinburgh Printmakers, 3 - 7 April

2025

 Meffan Winter Show, Meffan Museum & Art Gallery, Forfar

Big Art Show, The Art Department, Paisley

Elements, The Milton Gallery & AAS, Crathes

The Director's Cut, Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, Online Exhibition

Wish You Were Here, FDPW & SWSP members show, Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline

2024

SSA 126th Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

Meffan Winter Show, Meffan Museum & Art Gallery, Forfar

Squaring Up, Aberdeen Artists Society at Gallery Heinzel, Chattan Place, Aberdeen

Big Art Show, The Art Department, Paisley

Then and Now: 100 Years of Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

2023

Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair 2023, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich

Big Art Show, The Art Department, 2 - 10 Causeyside Street, Paisley

40 Years of Printmaking in Fife, Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline

2022

SSA Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound, Edinburgh

Good Impressions, FifeSpace, Rothes Halls, Glenrothes

Holy Grass Hero, Visitor Centre, Dunnet Bay Distillery

Meffan Winter Show, Meffan Museum and Art Gallery, Forfar

Big Art Show, The Art Department, Paisley

Pittenweem Arts Festival, FDPW Exhibition, Lesser Hall

Aberdeen Artists Society Exhibition, Aberdeen Art Gallery, Schoolhill

2021

 PRINT 21, Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries, Community Library

Printed Elements, SSA Online Exhibition

Berrylaw Perspective Exhibition, Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, Dunfermline Aberdeen Artists Society, Online Art Exhibition

Paisley Art Institute, Scottish Drawing Competition

TIDES CHANGING|CHANGING TIDES, SSA Online Exhibition

2020

Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show

Embody without Burden, Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Kelly Gallery

FDPW Show, Frames Gallery, Perth

Meffan Winter Show, Meffan Gallery, Forfar: 2019

10 x10, Junction Arts, Aberdeen: 2018

Mat/Family Leave: 2014 until 2018

Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries: 2013

Solo Exhibition

Melodic Memory, Grampian Hospitals Art Trust at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary: Jul to Sept 2013

Group Shows Until 2012 WASPS West Park Place Open Studios, Edinburgh/Christmas Showcase, Cakebreads, Oban/Annual Exhibition, Society for Scottish Artists, RSA, Edinburgh /Long Gallery, Tron, Glasgow/Aberdona Gallery/Macrobert Art Centre, Stirling/ Larks Gallery, Ballater/ Aberdeen Artist Society, Aberdeen Art Gallery

Awards

Los Angeles Printmaking Society’s Print Day in May

Winner 2026 Edinburgh Printmakers Print Day in May Winner 2025

Gallery Heinzel Award, Aberdeen Artist Society members exhibition 2024

California Society of Printmakers Print Day in May Winner 2024

Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award (VACMA), Creative Scotland 2019

Publications

Featured in Open University blog The Moon, Scots Language and the Scottish Landscape by Dr Sylvia Warnecke

Featured artist in Pressing Matters magazine, Issue 25: release date 24th Jan 2024

Collections

Several prints from the series So Very Glad to be Here, acquired by Imperial Health Charity, London in 2024

Education

BA (Hons) Fine Art: Painting 2.1, Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen,1997 - 2001

HNC Fine Art, Aberdeen College, 1996 - 1997

NC Fine Art, Falkirk College, 1995 – 1996

Born in Stirling, 1977