Catriona Campbell

sense of staging. In this striking composition, Campbell captures the drama and spectacle of a circus performance, presenting a group of aerial acrobats suspended high above the ring in a moment of perfect coordination.

The performers, dressed in luminous white, hang from brightly coloured rings that arc across the composition, creating a sense of movement, tension and rhythm. Below them, a ringmaster stands in the spotlight, grounding the scene and drawing the viewer’s eye upward toward the acrobats. The darkened audience and glowing circular lights heighten the theatrical atmosphere, while Campbell’s warm palette and confident brushwork give the painting its characteristic energy.

This work exemplifies Campbell’s ability to blend realism with imaginative storytelling, making it a standout example of contemporary Scottish figurative art. Her sensitivity to gesture, light and human interaction brings emotional resonance to the spectacle, inviting viewers to experience both the thrill and the artistry of performance.

Available from Red Rag Gallery, specialists in Scottish art and leading Scottish artists, Knowing the Ropes offers collectors a vibrant, visually compelling work by one of Scotland’s most distinctive and expressive painters.