During this summer Edinburgh comes alive with the Edinburgh Festivals and all the galleries make a special effort to show off their best work.

Our Festival exhibition is entitled "Into the Light" and will showcase works by the following artists: Frank To, James Somerville, Patti Yuill, Ricky Wiatrak, Jane Gray, John Anusas, Kate van Suddese and Deborah Cumming.

Frank To

Frank To is a young Glasgow-based artist whose unique painting technique is garnering him international recognition as a leading contemporary figurative painter amongst art critics and high profile collectors alike, including actor Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek fame) and New York based Michel Witmer, who hangs To’s paintings alongside those of Picasso, Dine and Warhol.

Born in Glasgow 1982, Frank To graduated from the University of Huddersfield with BA (Hons) Fine Art. He went on to gain a Masters of Fine Art from Duncan of Jordanstone Art College.

To’s utterly unique and striking painting technique is inspired by a story attributed to the Renaissance sculptor, Michelangelo. It was said Michelangelo could visualise the human form within a block of marble. To, similarly, teases out figures from initially abstract images. Other influences on his work are drawn from literary sources, such as the Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle.

There is drama in a Frank To painting. A brooding mental energy that sucks you in and leaves you wondering what, why, where? There is always something or someone or even part of someone emerging from the depths of one of his paintings. This is probably because this engaging, highly focused artist stirs himself into the work in a way that many of his peers– of all ages– do not. — Jan Patience, Art Correspondant, The Herald 2008

James Somerville

James Somerville is a Scottish contemporary painter living and working in the Scottish Borders. Originally from Fife - a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art - began teaching in Fife in 1960, later becoming Principal Teacher of Art in Glenrothes High School.

National Development Officer for Art and Design working for the Scottish Education Department, and principal Examiner for Art and Design with the Scottish Examination Board.

The opportunity of taking early retirement from teaching led to being able to paint on a full time basis - this over the past 20 years.

During this time, and to a lesser extent when teaching, was involved in a number of 1-man and numerous group exhibitions in the U.K.

His paintings have been purchased by the Scottish Arts Council, Pitlochry Festival (Harry Cruden), Edinburgh Hospitals, Fife Regional Council, and various private collections at home and abroad.

James Somerville Currently shows with the Leith, Aberfeldy, Fraser, and Gullane galleries in Scotland and various other galleries in the U.K. Work has also been shown at Art Fairs in London, Barcelona, New York and Glasgow in conjunction with The Leith Gallery whose subsidiary company, Art from Scotland have produced a range of giclee Limited Editions of his work.

Patti Yuill

The artist works to depict the essence of the personality of her subjects. She does this by using different techniques to bring to life each portrait often with different forms of abstraction and use of colour. She expresses herself through different media capitalising on her strength of being able to draw and paint on any scale.

Ricky P. Wiatrek

Richard Wiatrek was born and educated in Fife and graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1975. He was a winner of The Latimer Award from the RSA and exhibits regularly in various group shows such as the RSA , SSA and the RGI. His work is held in collections in Britain, Europe, America and the Far East.

Wiatrek is a supremely talented artist whose paintings this gallery believes to be highly collectable. His work is usually strange and enigmatic, sometimes anecdotal but always exquisitely painted. A leading Scottish symbolist.

Jane Gray

Jane's paintings are developed by applying layers of oil paint and beeswax. Consequently, her work is as much about the texture and the paint surface as it is about the final image. Some of her pictures, particularly the more recent work, have an almost sculptural quality. Subject matter is drawn from an image or idea which evolves as she paints and will often translate into something quite different.

The 'journey' started in 2002 at Leith School of Art, studying under Paul Martin. In 2005 Jane was awarded first prize by the Leith Gallery and given the opportunity to exhibit at its 'New Faces' Exhibition.

Jane exhibits her paintings in various galleries around Scotland and has shown work at the Royal Glasgow Institute (RGI). Following the sale of her business in 2004, Jane now shares a studio in Edinburgh and also works from her.

John Anusas

John Anusas was awarded with the Cross Trust Scholarship in 2000.He graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone Art School, BA (Hons) Fine Art in 2001 and has exhibited at Compass Gallery in 2001 and at Edinburgh Art-Fair November 2013.

Kate Van Suddese

Kate Van Suddese has exhibited her beautiful and distinctive seascapes throughout the UK for over 20 years. Her works are created in series but always progressing, seeking new ways to capture the elusive nature of the sea and to create a forum for exposing our own psyche. Each series informs the next, creating planned and unexpected diversions. Kate’s bold, dynamic use of paint perfectly expresses the hidden emotional agenda, whilst the luminous and ethereal use of light and colour gives substance to her desire to capture our need for beauty.

Inspiration comes from the beautiful coastline around Scotland, North Yorkshire and her native Northumberland. Recently Kate’s works have been based around lines of poetry, dramatic events and childhood memories which has seen her introduce figures into her works for the first time.

“The sea is a wonderful catalyst for every emotion experienced and stores a wealth of history, whimsy and drama in its folds, we cannot help but love and fear it in equal measure” Kate Van Suddese.

Deborah Cumming

Deborah Cumming is a Scottish artist born in Lanark. She began her art and design studies as a mature student while living in Chicago and then New York. On returning to Scotland she studied graphic design at Edinburgh’s Telford College, which formed the basis of her professional career working in the design industry for a number of years mainly within the central belt of Scotland. During this period she gained a Masters degree in design from Glasgow School of Art.

Her career in teaching graphic design began at Napier University, Edinburgh and then Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen. She secured a fully funded PhD studentship from Gray’s School of Art in design theory, which she completed in 2007.

In moving to London in 2010 Deborah reluctantly gave up her post at Gray’s School of Art to focus fully on her own artistic development in painting. While in London she rented a studio within a not-for-profit artists’ collective, exhibiting her work in London, Edinburgh and thereafter in Aberdeen.

Deborah’s work is split between landscape and still life with her strong design background providing a solid basis for both. Her work is attracting much interest within the market place throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Canada.