Dingwall showcase for Conon Bridge artist drawing on true passion for career change
A ROSS-SHIRE man who took the plunge to follow his true passion has unveiled his first exhibition close to home.
Former Dingwall Academy pupil Gary Miller went on to work as a bore-hole driller with Blake Geoservices based out of Munro Sawmill.
At the age of 27 he decided on a dramatic change in direction.
It was in 2015 that Gary, who is based in Conon Bridge, decided to follow his dream went back to university to study his real passion - drawing.
He said: “I always enjoyed drawing and as I got older I continued to enjoy it as a hobby and wanted to make it a career and so thought if I didn’t do it then I would never do it so just took a risk and went for it.”
He describes it as “quite a relaxing thing to do” and says he enjoys figuring out how to draw things.
Gary signed up to a four-year degree in Visual Design & Communication at UHI where he passed with first class honours, landing a job at Inverness design company, Dynam.
Gary, who is married to Jasmine and has a son, Archie, says he benefited from the “amazing” range of arts degrees available at UHI, adding that without that he wouldn't have been able to go back to further education as it would have meant moving away to Glasgow or Edinburgh with all the associated costs.
Post-lockdown he went solo, starting up his own business - Giddy Monster Illustration. He takes inspiration from everyday life – family, animals, nature – and loves creating pieces that make people smile.
Working with watercolours, pen and ink, screen-printing and digital prints, Gary creates all manner of pieces with an aim to moving into the world of book illustration.
He illustrated the book My First Book of Drum and Bass with a former colleague and has also created the illustrations for a children's book written by Jasmine, due to be released this year.
His exhibition is at The Alchemist Gallery in Dingwall.
