heart shaped

Portraits through the years

2011-11-23T13:37:00.004Z

The talent of the person beside you

2011-11-16T00:00:00.004Z

I wee while ago i was involved in an exhibition with Moray Art Centre. The exhibition was for volunteers to show their work in a group show. It was a great experience to work with some new people in the creative world and help out a bit.

Today is the start...

2011-09-11T10:52:00.001+01:00

Today i am going in to my studio and i am going to make a painting! no matter what it is i am going to make some thing with paint! If i don;t i am going out and finding a full time job!

some guys tattoo

2011-09-11T10:51:00.002+01:00

Saw this on a tattoo website and totally fell in love with the poem. Not posting his tattoo because it was horrendous but this i lovely!

“odi et amo. quare id faciam, fortasse requiris.
nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.”
-catullus

it means, “i hate” and “i love” in latin. from the most beautiful latin poem ever.

“i hate and i love. why do i do this, you might ask?
i know not, but i feel that it happens and i am tortured for it.”

Breathe Me

2011-07-02T14:28:00.001+01:00

Help, I have done it again
I have been here many times before
Hurt myself again today
And, the worst part is there's no-one else to blame

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
I'm needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Ouch I have lost myself again
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found,
Yeah I think that I might break
I've lost myself again and I feel unsafe

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
I'm needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
I'm needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Re-decorated Cairn.

2011-04-26T18:42:00.003+01:00

As part of the Retrace exhibition in Ullapool. I created a cairn made up of decorated pebbles for a trail around the village. This was then placed on the shore of Loch Broom off West Shore Street to view.

I realised that by making this a piece of work that people could interact with meant that it would not last that long in its intended place. I liked the idea of leaving the pebbles on the beach for people to do with as the please. A week after i installed the cairn it had all but gone from the beach.

Retrace: Graduate Show. An Talla Solais, Ullapool

2011-04-26T18:06:00.006+01:00

Five recently graduated artists return to Ullapool to present an unmissable exhibition of collaborative and individual work. Tiffany Bottomley, Christine Morrison, Mary Somerville, Matt Stockl and Rhiannon Van Muysen first came together in 2006 during the portfolio course at Bridge House Art before dispersing to begin degree courses at Scotland's three main Art Schools. The diversity of the exhibiting artists work will offer a glimpse at the wide range of specialisation offered in Scotland's contemporary arts institutions and will include stop motion animation, installation, painting, printmaking and illustration.

Tiffany Bottomley, B.A. (hons.) Painting and Printmaking, Glasgow School of Art,
Christine Morrison, B.A. (hons.) Intermedia Art, Edinburgh College of Art, (currently; M.F.A. Art, Space and Nature, Edinburgh College of Art)
Mary Somerville, B.A. (hons.) Fine Art, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art,
Matt Stockl, B.A. (hons.) Illustration, Edinburgh College of Art,
Rhiannon Van Muysen, B.A. (hons.) Fine Art, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art.

During the opening we had a trail of collaborative videos, projections and installations as a one off event.

Retrace

2011-04-18T20:16:00.001+01:00

A review of the opening night of Retrace. An exhibition i am in i An Talla Solais, Ullapool.

Retrace

Retrace

2011-03-25T17:15:00.004Z

You are invited to the opening of Retrace on the 16th of April 2011
An Talla solais Ullapool Visual Arts

Tiffany Bottomley, Christine Morrison, Mary Somerville, Matt Stockl, Rhiannon Van Muysen Five recently graduated artists return to Ullapool to present an exhibition of collaborative and individual work: stop motion animation, installation, painting, printmaking and illustration.

opening 7-9pm at an talla solais - with outdoor highlights around the village

The exhibition will run from the 17th of April till the 8th of May 2011
Open every day 2-5PM FREE entry

an talla solais
Market Street
Ullapool (Next to the Village Hall

www.antallasolais.org

01854 612310

With thanks to Ceilidh PLace Ullapool official sponsor

an talla solais charity no. SCO40348

Invershneckie (it's the fuckeen business)

2011-03-17T22:27:00.003Z

I wish I was the genius who came up wth this. This is for every one from Inverness and all my pals who aren't and who don't understand why i hate the accent!

Invershneckie (it's the fuckeen business) by thestevekelly

YOU WILL NOW!

Reminicing

2011-02-08T22:27:00.000Z

Tuesday 8th of February 2011

2011-02-08T21:56:00.003Z

So far new years resolutions aren't going so well. I have not had a drop of alcohol for almost 2 weeks now and I feel good for that. Since November i have lost almost a stone but i don't really know why, probably from cutting back on the booze and that has made me feel really good too. Haven't saved any money for my travels yet but when i get a new job that will start. Fingers crossed.

And now to the two resolutions i really wanted to keep. 1 Being more creative and 2 Playing guitar again. I just seem to have lost any urge to do anything creative. I used to constantly have ideas and want to make and now even listening to music annoys me. I want my old self back. When creativity and music and fun would make me so happy. I would be gagging to go out and stay out all night and now i'm usually home before 2. Hmmmm! What has gone wrong? What has changed?

I think living in Glasgow hasn't helped! This is the place i came to get away from Inverness and it just didn't seem to work out that way so as of friday i don't live here any more as i am relocating back to Inverness. Mainly to save up some money but also because staying in Glasgow is reminding me that i'm not doing what i want to do. Not doing what makes me happy. So... once i get back to INverness, after sorting out all the SHITE i have accumulated living in Glasgow i can go back with a clear head and have a new start.

So maybe as of Friday 11th of February 2011 can be my new New Years and I can start my resolutions properly.

2011...

2011-01-04T15:21:00.003Z

WELL... its 2011 all of a sudden. Where the hell did 2010 go!

I have decided that this year is going to be a good year! The passed 3 years have been pretty crappy to say the least and i want to have fun again!

First things first. New years resolutions. And yes i do mean resolutions. I have a few!

1. Loose weight, healthily.
2. Drink less alcohol.
3. Be a better friend, keep in touch with good friends more.
4. Play guitar more. Once appon a time i was quite good.
5. Save up for USA trip. £6000ish
6. Do more creative things. Paint, sew... etc.
7. Plan ahead more.

I feel more possitive about life and its only the 4th so hopfully this will stick about and by next year i'll be a happy traveller in the USA.

I have a really good feeling about this year! :)

Things i already have planned.
Visit to Ullapool -January22nd
Moving home-end January
Ray Lamontage concert- February 28th
London Trip -April
Mamma Mia -April 2nd
Ullapool Exhibition - April
Trio to Wales -May
Glee Concert- June23rd

Lots to do and think about!

wear sun screen

2010-11-16T12:12:00.000Z

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering
experience…I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you
imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing everyday that scares you Sing Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with
people who are reckless with yours. Floss Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with
yourself. Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. Stretch Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your
life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they
wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever
own.. Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you
should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and
lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live
in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will
philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will
look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than
it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…

Holiday

2010-07-11T13:49:00.005+01:00

Away on holiday to Cyprus for the next 3 weeks. Cannot wait to get there and start my painting again!!!

Will be back the begining of August.

If you want to get in touch with me please e-mail on tiffany.bottomley@yahoo.com as i will be checking this whilest on holiday.

Glasgow School of Art Degree Show 2010

2010-06-10T14:30:00.002+01:00

http://www.gsa.ac.uk/degreeshow2010/

Mutton Dressed as Lamb dressed as Lamb dressed as Mutton

2010-06-08T22:13:00.004+01:00

Mutton dressed as lamb, dressed as lamb dressed as mutton.
Multimedia Installation

Current work

2010-06-08T21:19:00.005+01:00

When trying to describe my work out loud I become rather tongue-tied. The words become too literal and confused and what I feel never come out. All I know for definite is WHERE my work has come from. A child hood of playing dress up. A house-proud mother and a sister always keen to play salon. I have had a very strong female influence on my life and I think simply this is where my work stems from.

I am saddened by the negative stereotypes that go along with femininity and feel that as a woman I should be proud of this aspect of my life. I feel my work reflects this but also may poke fun at it at the same time. Femininity is some thing to be enjoyed, played with and loved but never to be taken too seriously. The piece before you is a combination of all the influences on my femininity, from my upbringing to popular culture.

Although this work has developed from a very personal place I feel as though the viewer will be able to connect with the items I have used. The ability to recognise these items make the work open to many readings and responses.

Glasgow Fleeto

2010-06-08T21:15:00.002+01:00

http://www.glasgowfleeto.co.uk/

I am involved in an exhibition in London.
We are a group of Glasgow School of Art graduates.

New work... AT LAST!!

2009-12-04T00:56:00.001Z

SOme new work from my first term of my honours year.

Walk in the garden

2009-08-20T15:43:00.004+01:00

When I was home in the Highlands recently i went for a walk round Calder Castle Gardens, with my mummy. It was such a lovely hot day and the flowers were beautiful and the bees were busy at work. I found this very inspirational and just plain beautiful!

Bits and bobs from last year.

2009-08-18T13:13:00.005+01:00

Here are a few of my favourite bits of my work from my third year at art school! I'm probably putting up repeats of stuff i've put up before but never mind.

Highland Hospice

2009-06-03T11:40:00.003+01:00

My friend has just told me she and her boy friend will be running theBaxter's 10k on behalf of the Highland Hospice. I wanted to spread the word about this but also reveal some thing i am very proud of. My mother was the original founder of the Highland Hospice and it was 21 last year. I am so proud of her for achievements with this charity. A charity that i know has helped many families get through very hard times and has let the terminally ill pass with dignity. Here is a link to the Highland Hospice.

I just wanted to vocalise the pride i have in my mother and tell the world about this amazingly supportive charity.

new half years resolution.

2009-05-26T00:55:00.005+01:00

I can't remember if i made any new years resolutions in january but if i did i REALY didn't try to keep to them at all. SO... i am making one that will begin on the 1st of june. I am going to practice guitar properly again! I have been listening to a lot of new music recently and it has inspired me to get practicing again. Once when i was younger i was kinda good and i want to be good again.

This is my guitar. She isn't my favourite guitar i own. My favourite guitar is at home being kept safe from student life but once i move into my new flat i'm going to bring her down to Glasgow and play her again. I'm actually really excited about this. Lets just hope i can remember what to do!

artist i'm loving right now.

2009-05-25T15:02:00.003+01:00

I have been a fan of Joetta Maue's blog, Little Yellow Bird for a while now but silly old be only discovered her website last week.

I discovered her when i started using embroidery hoops in my own work. Which is kinda odd but i live it when you find artist's using similar media.

yum!

2009-05-25T03:38:00.003+01:00

i just found this picture on this blog and it has made me crave those oily hand made donuts our baker at home sells. I don't realy like sweet things but they are GOOD!

assessment

2009-05-24T15:15:00.003+01:00

So my third year at the Glasgow school of Art has come to and end. Now all i ave to do is get my final year gread back! Actually quite excited about this as i feel my work has taken a great leap in the right direction. Here are a few bits and bobs from my assessment.

I have to admit i'm very glad this year is over. It felt like a bit of a struggle at the end but i am so excited abut my final year at art school beginning. Lets just hope the summer is nice and doesn't drag on too much!

plan of action

2009-05-14T14:21:00.002+01:00

ok... another list. This time it's a TO DO list of things i need to get done over my summer holidays. I need to keep to this one. I have such a busy year ahead.

1. Move flat
2. Join gym
3. Prepare for dissertation
4. Start playing guitar again
5. carry on studio work at home
6. try and draw more. (portraits etc...)
7. paint mural in Inverness
8. investigate post grad stuff. (SCARY)
9. prepare ideas for 4th year studio practice
10. AVE FUN WITH FRIENDS (its not going to happen much in 4th yr)

spring time

2009-05-06T12:20:00.003+01:00

Glasgow has bloomed. Its beautiful. went for a walk in Kelvin grove park and the blossom was so stunning.

Studio

2009-05-06T12:17:00.005+01:00

So once agan i got moved to a different studio space. But i couldn't be happier. It HUGE! a bit messy because i have been working like a trooper but i love it and wish i could keep it for my final year.

crazy stuff

2009-05-05T17:41:00.003+01:00

Ok so i have made a sensible list. Now i am going to make a list of all the crazy things i want to do before i die.

1. learn to fire dance
2. learn to fire breath
3. swim with whales/dolphins
4. sky dive
5. run a marathon
6. go sphere-ing
7. shoot a gun
8. travel the world (this should be on both lists)

Ok i used to have a list the length of my arm for this one but i can't remember half of them.

Again... i will change this and add to it over time.

This is fun!

Growing up!

2009-05-05T17:29:00.003+01:00

I am moving flat soon for a wee change of scenery and i am having to do a very grown up thing and buy my first bed. I have decided that i am going to make a list of all the grown up things i am excited about doing/buying and see how many i have done/purchased when i turn 30. (in 8 years) I'm going to need a big list but i think i might do this in sections. It takes a lot of thinking.

1. buy a bed
2. redecorate my home
3. change my nephew's nappy (he's one and i've got out of it so far.)
4. rent a one bedroom apartment
5. buy a book shelf
6. fill book shelf
7. read books in book shelf
8. buy a crockery set
9. learn to sew/knit/embroider
10. learn to drive.
11. baby sit
12. buy a car
13. buy a good pair of boots that WILL last the winter
14. tell some one a am in love with them.
15. sell a painting.
16. have a solo exhibition.
17. go on a holiday with just my mummy
18. think about babies.
19. have a meaningful chat with my big brother
20. graduate

So these are not in any order and some of them are very random but its nice to think about these things.

i should probably add
21. decided what i'm doing after i leave university.

silly girly floral art.

2009-04-16T14:47:00.005+01:00

My work this year at scholl has been focusing on feminine imagery, such as flowers, floral fabrics, lace and general girly things. I will go into more when i knwo why. I think i just like girly things in general. One thing i have been using id a flower loom. I love the delicate little flowers.

cup cakes

2009-04-16T14:40:00.002+01:00

i have found a new love for baking. I think it has some thing to do with the love heart shaped cake tin my friend got for her birthday. Its so cute!

dad.

2009-04-02T03:12:00.002+01:00

phillip toledano's piece days with my father is a beautiful journey. I never thought i would feel so moved by photographs. these photos have made me realise what i lost when my father passed and have made me realise how important looking after my beautiful mother is.

i love you both more than you can know.

BLEEEEEEHHH!!!

2009-04-02T01:52:00.003+01:00

It's April 1st and i haven't been putting things up on here as much as i wanted. Been procrastinating an awful lot but also busy with university stuff. I will sort out some photos of work soon.

I'm on my Easter holidays right now and want to sort things out on my computer and i'll post my finds on here. My photos are in a mess! it'll be a big job but i really should do it. ah!

addiction!

2009-04-01T02:01:00.002+01:00

I know this has nothing to do with any thing but I"M ADDICTED! THIS GAME is so adictive ts scary. I told my friends to go play it and they sat on it for three hours! its evil but fun. go try it out.

Ignoring you...

2009-03-17T21:29:00.002Z

I haven't done anything on this in a while mainly due to the fact i haven't done any work i like that much recently and I've be ill so i just thought I'd let any one who comes on here know. I will put some new work up soon and some more old stuff. I like to compare work from different years so I'm doing it for all to see.

Hope you still like the blog :)

2nd year

2009-02-08T16:39:00.005Z

Some old work from my second year at art school. Not sure how much i like this work but it helped me move on to work that i am very happy with!

Trip to New York

2009-01-26T20:35:00.005Z

Went on a wee trip to New York, NY to visit a friend on exchange. Had such an amazing time. Love every minute of it. It snowed which was lovely, bit of a nuisance to walk through, but very beautiful! I did far to much shopping but I was in New York, what else is a girl to do.

New Studio

2009-01-26T20:28:00.003Z

YAY!! I moved studios. I now have a bigger space with three walls not two. I love it and i have done so much work. GO ME!! Here are a few photos to make you jealous!

1st Year

2008-12-10T15:37:00.011Z

A few bits and bobs from my first year at art school. Goodness me that feels like a long time ago. I'm really putting these up so i can see if there is much change over the years but i thought it would be interesting for you to look at too. They go from term one at the bottom to term three at the top.

my first piece of real art.

2008-12-10T15:06:00.004Z

It was my 21st birthday this year and my brother and sister gave me some money to get what ever i wanted. I was shopping with my mummy at home and went to my favourite little gallery and found the most beautiful and perfect Birthday present.

The piece is by a South African artist named John Bauer and is called ' I have never stopped hoping' The inscription is a short prose about the loss of his mother and grand mother in a hit and run accident and how he thinks about them phoning him to tell him they are actually alive and coming home. Having lost my father last year this piece touched me like none of his other pieces and i had to own it.

I was told by Denise the owner of The Castle Gallery that this piece was one of Bauer's favourites and it meant a lot to him which makes it even more meaningful.

I love this piece and will cherish it for the rest of my life.

First 3rd year feed back.

2008-12-10T03:08:00.005Z

So... it kinds feels like 1st term has come to an end already. Why? might you ask... well i got my first feed back of the year so i feel like we're done. SCARY STUFF! well not really! I had such an amazing first crit that i kinda new what was coming. My grade for the term was a C1!! Woo Hoo! This might sound rubbish but the highest grade out of our year was a B2 so I'm well chuffed! (massive grin) BUT this has just made me so determined to get a B next term its unreal. i will scan in my feed back sheet and let you see soon. :)

derogatory or nice

2008-12-10T02:57:00.006Z

A few photos from our first flat exhibition. I think it went really well. I had so much fun and it was nice to have a night with a different feel to it. THANK YOU to every one who came and all the artist's who got involved. Fingers crossed we do an other one soon!!

derogatory or nice

flat exhibition 3

2008-12-06T14:46:00.007Z

SOOOOO bloody excited! We're just sorting out the flat for the exhibition tonight! CANNOT WAIT!!!

If your in Glasgow tonight at 8 o'clock come on over to Derogatory or Nice at my flat! Its going to be a good night!! :) phone me if you know my number;) or E-mail me if your really want to come but don't know where i live!

Ullapool

2008-12-02T23:01:00.007Z

I left secondary school in 2005. Seem too long ago. I had decided i wanted to go to art school when i was about 5 so i knew what i had to do. I enrolled on a portfolio course! The course was a full time residentual course in Ullapool on the west coast of Scotland. The tutor who ran the course was named Eleanor White and she owns Bridge House Arts which holds the portfolio course. I am not just saying this I think Eleanor's course is the best thing that ever happened to me. It was so much fun. I met some wonderful people and we held our very own exhibition at the end. AMAZING!!!

Here are a few piece from the exhibition and my portfolio.

2nd year

2008-12-01T23:58:00.007Z

Here are a few pieces from my second year of art school.

flat exhibition 2

2008-12-01T15:30:00.004Z

flat exhibition

2008-12-01T15:26:00.003Z

my beautiful flatmates and I are holding an exhibition night at our massive flat.

It will be on December the 6th. I am soooo excited about it mainly because we'v done it all off our own backs. There should be a bar if not bring your owns bottle! GO see the page....

derogatory or nice

Recent work.

2008-12-01T02:49:00.007Z

Work from third year.

heart shaped 1

2008-12-01T02:43:00.002Z

i never know what to write on things like this....

i want this to be a site that i can put my work on to get some feed back.

it'l probably end up being some where i rant.