THE streets and harbour of Dunbar are at the heart of a new exhibition opening next month.

Edinburgh-based Ann Cowan spent time in the town throughout 2019 and earlier this year.

Her work – Dunbar Sketchbooks – will feature in Gullane’s Fidra Fine Art, alongside Dominique Cameron’s Moor, which focuses on Rannoch Moor, west of Pitlochry.

Although not the intention of either artist, both bodies of work are devoid of human figures.

Ann, the daughter of an architect and an artist, found that her eye was naturally drawn to the architecture and streets in and around Dunbar.

She said: “The town has a wealth of beautiful old red sandstone buildings with interesting architectural details.

“Orange pan tiles form wonderful roofscapes.

“The industrial outskirts are grittier, but just as interesting in terms of composition.

“The harbour is a constant source of inspiration with its fishing boats and lobster creels.

“Follow the cliffs of deep burnt sienna along the coast, past Winterfield to Belhaven and you discover miles of sandy beach with tall ochre grasses set against colourful beach chalets.”

Ann gave up a career in law to become a full-time artist.

She grew up in the Borders, with Dunbar a town she has known for many years.

Alan Rae, who owns the gallery, was a fan of both artists and was looking forward to the exhibition, which gets under way on August 22.

He said: “Ann’s loose and expressive drawing, sometimes supported by textural patches of collage, combines with an organic palette enlivened with flashes blue, yellow and the rich red of the local East Lothian sandstone.

“Painted in a spontaneous sketchbook style, the result is a broad and tender portrait of a much-loved town.”

The gallery owner said that the coronavirus lockdown had proven difficult for the arts sector.

Fidra Fine Arts reopened its doors at the end of last month with the Mixed Summer Exhibition.

Mr Rae added: “When the lockdown began, it was a really anxious time.

“Gallery owners always want to do the best for their artists and I wasn’t sure how it would play out with this exhibition.

“Happily, we will be welcoming visitors to view this wonderful work in August.”