Still storming the Castle – a quarter century on!
Inverness's Castle Gallery is celebrating its 25th birthday. Frances Anderson talks to founder Denise Collins.
CELEBRATING its 25th anniversary in the arts is the Castle Gallery in Inverness. Established in 2001 by its founder and owner Denise Collins, this award winning, independent, locally owned gallery promotes original, quality, handmade applied and fine art and was described in The Independent as 'one of the best reasons to visit Inverness.'
Committed to showing unique and exciting new art in the Highlands, Gallery Director Denise Collins, has had decades of experience in the art world working with established artists and nurturing emerging talent. With a particular interest in promoting handmade, original prints, the gallery has an exceptional collection from renowned printmakers.
Collins went to art college in Lincoln and Leeds, followed by a post-graduate degree in Museum and Gallery Management at City University, London. She says, "I learned both the practical skills and the organisational and business skills necessary to run a successful art gallery.
In 1996 she purchased her first gallery, Cambridge Contemporary Art. "With no funding from the public sector, friends or family it was my confidence in my abilities that secured a business loan from a bank to purchase the gallery. This was a busy, profitable gallery but after ten years I sold it to an employee as I had a hankering for a quieter pace of life in the Scottish Highlands. My father was born only 100 yards from my gallery in Inverness and as a child we spent summer holidays in Aberdeen, where all my grandparents lived.
"After university I came back to the north of Scotland on many holidays either cycling, camping or sailing and one day in Inverness we had a light-bulb moment... why don't we move here, and six months later it was done! When I moved to the Highlands I made the effort to understand the history and culture and learned Gaelic.
"A Scottish, artist-friend of mine told me that Inverness was a bit of a cultural backwater and that a gallery here would never succeed. However, a quarter of a century later the Castle Gallery is still thriving and is highly respected by the locals.
"It was voted by the public 'Best Creative Arts Business of the Year 2025' in the Inverness BID Awards. I really appreciate the loyalty of my established customer base, some of whom have been purchasing from the gallery since it opened on 21 April 2001.
"Locals still make up 70 per cemt of the gallery's clientele but tourists are increasingly attracted to Inverness, especially since the opening of the castle to the public in 2025. In 2020 we launched our online shop to help reach a wider, international audience and this has been vital for the commercial success of the gallery. One has to move with the times!
"But the main reason I have been so successful is the loyalty of my staff and artists. Juliette and Rochelle, between them, have worked for me for over 35 years. Many artists transferred galleries with me from Cambridge to Inverness including Helen Martino, Blandine Anderson, Dorothy Stirling, Shazia Mahmood, Trevor Price, Mychael Barratt and three artists, Maureen Minchin, Angie Lewin and Gareth Watson, moved about the same time as me from East Anglia to the Highlands and Islands. Many artists are drawn to the Highlands, but it is not easy to make a living here as the centre of artistic power is in the central belt and London.
"Even though the Castle Gallery takes work from artists from all over the UK it has become an important space for local artists, including Jonathan Shearer, Julia Smith and Alan Baillie and about 70 per cent of the gallery artists are from Scotland. This is based on artist quality and craftsmanship and not some parochialism or a need to satisfy the tourist trade.
"I organise four or five solo or two person shows each year which highlight those artists at the top of their game. The work is interesting, contemporary and professional and encompasses paintings, original handmade prints (no giclé e reproductions), sculpture, hand-crafted jewellery and crafts.
"With four solo exhibitions a year and three mixed exhibitions, the display of fine paintings, handmade prints, glass, ceramics, sculpture and designer jewellery is constantly changing, ensuring the gallery is fresh and intriguing at all times. All members of staff are active 'creator-makers,' giving us a deep appreciation and insight into the perspective and techniques of our artists.
"I am nearing retirement age and I hope to pass on the Castle Gallery to a reliable, like-minded person who is going to take it forward for another 25 years of success. Retiring from the business-side of things will give me more time to explore my own creativity and I hope to get back to painting, collage and printmaking."
Castle Gallery, 43 Castle St, Inverness IV2 3DU www.castlegallery.co.uk
