Kayla Spence is based in Aberdeen, and graduated from Gray’s School of Art in 2024 with a degree in painting. They are an expressive artist, working primarily in oil and graphite. Their use of an organic, muted colour palette helps to capture a sense of place and reflects the natural tones of the hills. Kayla’s work aims to reveal an intimacy and delicacy in the land, capturing not just how it appears but also how it makes them feel. For Kayla these landscapes are more than just physical places: they represent home, memory, and identity.

Thanks for being with us Kayla! Tell us how you arrived at the theme of your exhibition?
The theme of my exhibition is connection to place. This emerged through my exploration of landscape painting during my degree. I found that painting the environment around me became a way to visually process and deepen my relationship with it. Hillscapes, in particular, became a recurring motif, symbolising my connection to Scotland, my home. Their constant presence in the landscape makes them an iconic and deeply personal representation of place for me.

Can you walk us through your creative process?
My process often begins with a photograph, usually 35mm film, as I love the dreamy tones and colours it captures. From this I draw out the composition, focusing on the most prominent features that I want to highlight in the painting. I don’t tend to plan meticulously; instead, I start with a diluted base and let intuition guide me. My process is quick and instinctive, I can often complete a couple of paintings in an afternoon. I approach painting almost like drawing, which allows the work to become more abstracted and expressive.

Can you elaborate on the significance or symbolism of the chosen title of your exhibition?
The title Shifting Light, Silent Land was inspired by one of the key elements in my landscape work: light, and the way it transforms the land. I’m fascinated by how these immense structures, like Munros, remain largely unchanged over thousands of years, yet the light falling on them changes constantly. It can reveal hidden forms or fleeting moments that may never be seen the same way again. That tension between permanence and ephemerality is something I am intrigued by.

Which artists inspire you? Are there non-artistic influences such as literature or music that impact your work?
I’m particularly drawn to artists who explore tone and colour in interesting ways, using it to elevate the narrative of a piece and subtly abstracting the subject matter. The Scottish Colourists, especially Samuel Peploe and his landscapes from Iona, have been influential. I’ve also recently discovered Edvard Munch’s landscapes, and fallen in love with his style. Other key inspirations include Clyfford Still, Filipe Tojal, Nuria Maria, and Frédéric Dumoulin.

Music plays a big role in my practice too, it sets the tone for my work. I often paint while listening to Florence + The Machine. Their music is so powerful and emotive, it encourages me to create.

What’s your favourite piece in the exhibition?
I think my favourite piece might be An Evening in June. I surprised myself with how I painted it! I leaned more into realism and relied upon colour to carry that. It depicts a rock face on Snowdon, which I explored after being part of Landscape Artist of the Year so it’s nice to have that fond memory as a painting. 

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about the exhibition or your experience as an artist?
This exhibition marks an important moment in my journey. Since graduating last June, I’ve felt a bit uncertain how to progress and to keep up the practice of painting. Putting this show together was a way to challenge myself and reflect on my practice. It’s a collection of both new and older works that I feel highlight my style. At the heart of it all, I paint because I love the process and I hope that sense of joy comes through in the work.

Find out more about Kayla’s work on their Instagram. Shifting Light, Silent Land runs at Six Foot Gallery from 13th to 27th May 2025.