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Testimonials

Home > About > Testimonials

General

“I was a student at Hospitalfield during the summer of 1963.  It was a time of productive freedom to develop new directions in my work, the discovery of new landscapes and seascapes, new friends and the hospitality and kindness of Mr and Mrs Reid. It was a privilege to have been part of a Scottish visual art heritage that can be traced back through the generations to the founding family.  It is vitally important to allow future generations of students and artists to become part of this tradition and to benefit from association with this unique Trust,” Professor Will Maclean MBE RSA.

 “In the summer of 1969 I was selected at the end of my third year from Gray’s School of Art to spend three months at Hospitalfield to work alongside 11 other students from the 4 Scottish Art Schools. I found it to be a magical place. The privilege of staying in this gothic edifice with its plethora of treasures and great studios was the most formative and exciting period in my development as an artist. Even after all these years the house is almost unchanged and still retains for me a nostalgic fascination,” Joyce Cairns RSA RSW.   

“A fascinating place bubbling with history, Hospitalfield is stunning and unusual. Oddly, though it is a grand and spectacular house, it is also intimate. I felt quite at home in Hospitalfield,” Jackie Kay, award winning poet.

 “We stayed at Hospitalfield for a month in the early autumn of 2007 and, although a relatively short residency, it was an incredibly productive period.  The chance to have uninterrupted time to think, read, transcribe, draw, test ideas and make work was a luxury in itself but the tranquillity of the place seemed, somehow, also to re-sharpen the senses and make one more conscious of light, of colour, of the rhythm of the day and of the night.

“The house is extraordinary.  The dynamic of the place is very much about the relationship between the landscape that surrounds the building and the internal architectural space which, when read together, reflect Patrick Allan-Fraser’s and his wife Elizabeth’s whole ethos:  to be conscious of nature and to make aesthetics an integral part of their lives.  Consequently nature is given visual form in the interior design of the house and the artefacts within it.  These same concerns are evidenced through language within the holdings of the Library and particularly in the writings of one of their ancestors. Much of our collaborative work has been, in the broadest sense, about the relationship between constructed ideas of nature and culture.  So the residency provided an ideal context in which to research, and the opportunity to use the Library as both a studio and a resource was invaluable. Through close reading of the journals of Richard Parrot, a relative of Mrs Fraser’s, we came to know him as an antiquarian trying to understand the world through the study of astronomy, cosmology, theology, philosophy, aesthetics, the natural sciences and Classical antiquity; concerns echoed in Fraser’s own research.  Parrot’s journals became the inspiration behind much of what we did during the residency and a source for the work shown at the RSA, Edinburgh in July-September 2008 as part of an exhibition entitled ‘Research’.  One particular journal, compiled between 1740 and 1762 we found to be an incredible archive of information.  In it Parrot recounts experiences had and knowledge gained whilst doing the Grand Tour.  His writings in the battered, leather-bound journal were indexed alphabetically but occurred in an apparently random order under subject headings.  Some strange and poetic connections were made as ideas on the pages seemed to grow out of each other like rhizomes:  Memory, Meridian, Melancholy, Thunder…  When facts were recorded that could not easily be categorised they appeared under the heading Curious Arts. This was the title that we adopted for the sound installation at the RSA, which used found text, wall painting and edited sound recordings made of the out-of-tune harpsichord that sits in the elegant Drawing Room at Hospitalfield House. The significance of the experience of the residency at Hospitalfield and the research undertaken there has extended way beyond the initial work in progress, presented at the time to other residents at the house; and beyond the resolved work presented to the public at the RSA.  It has gone on to inspire an installation that will re-introduce to the library some of the ideas discovered there, in the form of a wall text and limited edition book-work.  Without the opportunity of the residency, none of these art works would have come into being,” artists Susan Brind & Jim Harold.

“Hospitalfield is original and unique in the truest sense. Its connection with the arts is centuries old from Sir Walter Scott to present day alumni who have been supported by time spent in, and with, the building and its grounds. The interior of the building is astonishing – absolute living history – crammed with art and artefacts, rare and precious mixed with eccentric follies and all of it accessible and lived with. As a centre for the arts Hospitalfield gives space and freedom, provides peace and containment and above all else inspires. It is a place in which artists can retreat, explore, experiment and create and in so being is an invaluable asset and resource. Hospitalfield provided me with an environment in which I was able to focus deeply into my practice and that of fellow artists both collectively and personally, that has had a lasting and on-going influence on the development of my work,” Janice Parker

“The house is adorable with exciting rooms to discover. It was like being Alice in the wonderland,” Lilian Nabulime, sculptor and Royal Overseas League Arts Scholar.

“I was lucky enough to get the chance to spend three months as Artist in Residence at Hospitalfield House during the summer of 2006. It is a stunning mansion house that has been growing and changing for over two hundred years and is adorned with a myriad of carvings and turrets and furnished with objects from the 1800’s. I had the luxury of living there and treating it as my home for a short while and I grew extremely fond of the building and the stories, which hide in every corner. I made works of art whilst there, inspired by the objects that have been left behind by Patrick and Elizabeth Allan Fraser, the last owner/ occupants. I felt that the treasured furniture and crockery contained the spirit of the previous owners; they had a presence and kept me company when I was alone, and so, remembering the house’s earlier history as a hospital, I mended the damaged objects using medical means, caring for them as one would a human body. Whilst there, I was interviewed by Radio Scotland for The Radio Café and since my residency I have given talks on my experience in the house to the Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy, Holyrood Arts Club and to students from Virginia Commonwealth University at Glasgow School of Art. My residency at Hospitalfield House culminated in an ‘Open Doors’ weekend, during which I exhibited my work around the house. A publication was made for this exhibition: Open Doors – The Hungry Dog Press, ISBN 0-9541412-2-9 In January 2007, I exhibited the work that I had created during my residency at Hospitalfield House in Residence at the Royal Scottish Academy. I showed alongside Miranda Blennerhasset and Catriona Grant who were also funded by the RSA to undertake the residency that year,” Julia Douglas.

“Hospitalfield House provides a unique context to make work in. The history and distinctive character of the house aside, for me it was the landscape that made the most impact on my work. There is an openness, a sense of freedom and a quietness that is conducive to creativity and research. It is also a supportive atmosphere to work in and a wonderful place to meet other artists,” Miranda Blennerhassett.

“As a designer I was never a student at Hospitalfield but often visited in the early 1960’s when Will Maclean was there for the summer. After that we visited to stay with Willie Reid and family who became friends and I loved exploring and looking at the collections. My interest in the place started as a child because my mother’s brother was a graduate of Edinburgh college of Art and a student at Hospitalfield when Cowie was there in the late 1930’s. As a youngster stories from this time inspired my own determination to become an artist. Over the years since then we have been there on many different occasions and have known students who found it an invaluable experience. Recently I was Vice- president of the RSW and once again Hospitalfield became an important place for the residencies we could offer to young artists. I think it is really important in the 21st century that a facility like this is not lost and that a way forward fit for this time is found. Its history, location and amenities deserve this,” Marian Leven RSA RSW.

"Hospitalfield is the ideal setting for our photography study abroad program from Utah State University. Amid the stately elegance of the estate, we find comfortable accommodations, a helpful staff, and physical facilities, such as studios and darkrooms, that support our creative endeavors.  Simply being at Hospitalfield provides a venue to experience the art, culture and history that is an integral part of Scotland. Exploring Arbroath and the surrounding countryside reveals opportunities to photograph castles, ancient sites, landscapes, harbors, fishing villages, glens, mountains, cathedrals, and much more. Hospitalfield also lies near enough for a day excursion to major Scottish cities – Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee – to visit museums, galleries, exhibits and events available there. The opportunity for our students to experience Hospitalfield as the basis of their study abroad program has given our students an educational experience that has been more than we have hoped for.  This has been a much richer experience of Scottish history and culture than any other venue could have provided," Craig and Nancy Law, Directors Utah State University Photography Study Abroad Program.

 "From the first glance, I was enchanted.  The beauty of the art, the picturesque architecture, and the rich history made Hospitalfield a place I will never forget," Jade Little, Utah photography student.

"My stay at Hospitalfield was idyllic.  I had a room on the main floor, was close to internet access, dining room, and had a wonderful view out my bay window.  My stay here was far beyond what I had expected.  The cuisine was varied, excellent, and true to the culture of each country of the day. Our buffet breakfast was warm, ready, and enjoyable.  The staff even provided lunch for the days we were out touring.  The history of Hospitalfield was in every feature of the exterior and interior.  Rustic yet clean is what I'd say.  I would recommend Hospitalfield to anyone who was looking for a traditional Scottish place to stay," Pat Barfuss, Utah photography student.

“I brought a group of postgraduate students from the Mediaeval History Department at the University of St Andrews to Hospitalfield for a Reading Party in March 2009.  It proved an ideal location for such an event.  The house and the grounds gave an excellent atmosphere for intellectual exchange.  The combination of the historic and the artistic was of very considerable interest, especially for those interested in ‘medievalism’.  The accommodation was comfortable, Willie Payne and all the staff extremely helpful, and the food excellent.  We very much hope to be able to return,” John Hudson, Professor of Legal History, University of St Andrews.

Facilities

“… it was great to have your warm welcome when we arrived,” Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy.

“You could almost feel the sense of history… the sense of the Arts and Crafts movement was very strong,”   Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy.

“Thank you again for the use of Hospitalfield for the RIAS Convention 2009. It was a very memorable evening,” Royal Institute of Architects Scotland.

“We were delighted with everything…” Andrew White.

Catering

“The meal was delicious and the service pleasant” Andrew White
Comments from student groups:
“I never ate food so fresh”
“Wish we could take the chef with us”
“Awesome. I was spoiled”
“I want the chef to work in the college!”
“Good variety of meals. Very filling”
“Amazing”
“Yum!”

Study Groups

“The house and the grounds gave an excellent atmosphere for intellectual exchange.  The combination of the historic and the artistic was of very considerable interest, especially for those interested in ‘medievalism’.  The accommodation was comfortable, Willie Payne and all the staff extremely helpful, and the food excellent.  We very much hope to be able to return,” John Hudson, Professor of Legal History, University of St Andrews.

“We had a brilliant time. Everyone appreciates the compete package: the good, imaginative food, the surroundings, the accommodation,” Barbara Wilkinson, the Flute Weekend.

“We enjoy the informality of the eating arrangements and the freedom to make tea and coffee whenever we want,” Barbara Wilkinson, the Flute Weekend.

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