Gesture

Alec Galloway

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Alec Galloway is one of the worlds leading glass artists. He is Head of Architectural Glass at Edinburgh College of Art, but still finds time to travel the world participating in a wide variety of projects.

Born in Greenock, Alec is one of Inverclyde’s greatest ambassadors as his work is critically acclaimed at home and abroad. His art encompasses both the traditional and contemporary. Its diversity can be experienced from stained glass windows in Scottish churches to the cutting edge design of the feature glass installations in skyscrapers, hotels and shopping malls worldwide.

His creativity however spans many art-forms as not only does he produce the occasional painting he also performs widely with his band “The Lazerenkos”.

Andy Hemphill

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Andy originally trained to become a Registered General Nurse, working initially in a High Dependency Unit then moving to the Royal Free Hospital in London where he specialised in Adult Intensive Care for the next ten years.

In 1990-91, Andy started to develop a hereditary eye disorder known as Lever’s Optic Neuropathy, the end result of which is central vision blindness.

This meant, because of the necessity for accurate vision and precision in the speciality in which he was employed, thatAndy had to give up his chosen career.

From an early age Andy had a keen interest in Art and had been offered a place at the Glasgow School of Art when he was eighteen.

Andy took it upon himself to get back into working in 3d and almost by chance came across what was in effect a foundation course in Art and Design at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford. After completing the course there, he re-applied, and was accepted, to join the BA (Hons) Design course at the Glasgow School of Art.

It was during his time as an undergraduate that Andy took a special interest in working with sensory deprived individuals and groups, basing his dissertation upon this. Graduating in 1998, Andy has continued to work in this area whilst developing his own artwork.