Meet the Maker - Abby McDougall

Please can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your work?

I am a Bristol based artist working from the renowned Jamaica Street Studios. I have been exhibiting widely in Bristol and beyond for the past five years. My work is about place, light and atmosphere. I paint cityscapes of well known areas of the city, as well as more neglected areas. I try and get a sense of the time we live in and a special quality of light and colour in all my pieces. 

What do you think makes Paper • Scissors • Stone special?
It's the connections, being able to connect with other artists and with the public.

What do you love most about working in your chosen discipline?
The freedom to travel around, visiting places, whether locally or internationally.

Describe your studio or workspace?

It's a medium sized space in the open plan first floor of Jamaica street studios. It's very cold in the winter because there's no heating and very hot in the summer because the large windows act as a greenhouse. But it is a very sociable kind of space and often quite industrious.

What is your favourite part of Christmas?

Seeing family, when it snows and having a chance to take stock of the past year and to plan for the next.

If you could choose a fellow Paper Scissors Stone artist to collaborate with who would it be and why?

Sarah Knight, I love the sense of humour in her work.

If you could choose one Christmas gift for yourself from Paper Scissors Stone, what would it be?

A necklace from Melanie Pike, one of the rectangular tree ones.

Which is your favourite local independent shop or eatery in Bristol & why?

At the moment the Urban Woods, really good burgers and wine and really nice atmosphere and friendly staff.

What are your plans for 2013?

I don't know yet, I'm going to plan all that at Christmas. possibly an M.A. in Brussels.

What is your favourite Christmas song?

Last Christmas

Finally if you were a Christmas cracker, what inside treat would you be?

A spinning top.

Thank you Abby! Lovely to know some more about you.

Abby's work is available in Paper • Scissors • Stone Artist Temporium, located in Cabot's Circus, Bristol daily until 31st December.