Catriona Millar

that unfold within her work. In Dreamtime, Millar introduces a serene, introspective figure cradling a small zebra—an unexpected, enchanting companion that immediately signals the painting’s dreamlike quality.

The figure’s closed eyes, soft expression, and reddish‑brown hair tied neatly with a floral accessory create a sense of calm interiority. Her striped clothing in pink, purple, and green tones adds rhythm and warmth, while the zebra—rendered with the same simplified, geometric charm as Millar’s human subjects—becomes both character and symbol. It may evoke innocence, imagination, or the surreal logic of dreams.

Behind them, a lush tapestry of oversized flowers in blues, purples, and yellows fills the background. These blooms, flattened into decorative shapes, glow against the dark backdrop, giving the composition a jewel‑like intensity. Millar’s use of colour is confident and expressive, transforming the scene into a space where emotion and imagination take precedence over realism.

Millar’s work sits firmly within the tradition of Scottish narrative painting, yet her voice is unmistakably her own—whimsical, modern, and deeply human. Dreamtime is a celebration of inner worlds, symbolic companionship, and the quiet magic that Millar brings to every canvas.