A REMOTE Scottish castle has turned to a North-East painter to be its first artist in residence.

Amhuinnsuidhe Castle, in the Outer Hebrides, has invited Gillie Cawthorne, from Durham City, to work as artist in residence for a week this summer.

The castle, set in a 55,000-acre estate and location for the TV series The Castle Cook, will make a remarkable change of scene for the artist whose last two exhibitions have been in New York and Washington DC.

The mother-of-two, who was born in Coxhoe, graduated from Durham University in 1985 and has worked as a professional artist for the past two decades.

During the residency, she will demonstrate her watercolour skills to residents and exhibit her work at a private exhibition.

She said the area was "a paradise and an inspiration to paint".

Published: 24/06/2005