No More Sheep: Margot Sandeman on Arran at Kelvingrove
Tucked into the small ‘Fragile Gallery’ at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Sandeman’s exhibition No More Sheep is comprised of just five paintings.
Five beautiful, tender and delicate paintings—but still only five.
Despite the small scale, I was struck by the atmosphere in Sandeman’s paintings. I haven’t been to Arran, but through her work I imagined it as a quiet, restorative place full of shifting light and long pauses. Her brushwork is patient, her colour palette gentle and assured. There’s something deeply personal in the way she observes the stillness of the landscape.
The artist who painted these seems thoughtful, quietly humorous, and attentive to the everyday. The title No More Sheep refers to the absence of the island’s once-central animals and a subtle mourning for the passing of tradition.
It was especially disappointing to notice that Sandeman’s name had been misspelled on several of the wall texts — some read “Margo,” others “Margot.” A small detail, perhaps, but one that speaks volumes. These works have been on display for a year. Has no one noticed? Has no one checked? It felt careless. Disrespectful, even.
After leaving the gallery, I tried to learn more about Sandeman. There’s surprisingly little available. A few scattered images online, and a selection of pieces at Gerber Fine Art, but very few signs that art history has given her the attention she deserves.
I did find out that she was great friends with Joan Eardley, and that the two rented a bothy on Arran together during art school. I also came across a lovely short film by the Arran Arts Heritage Trail, which includes Sandeman’s own words and glimpses of the landscapes that inspired her.
Let’s hope this quiet show is the beginning of something louder.