REMEMBERING Livingstone’s fellow explorers, two women are celebrating Livingstone’s bicentenary with their exhibition, Livingstone’s Africa, which runs from 13-18 August 2013 at the Gladstone Gallery, Gladstone’s Land (off the Royal Mile).
Specialising in African tourism, Claire Foottit and Mary-Anne Bartlett were drawn together by a shared connection with the missionary explorer, Dr David Livingstone.
Travel writer and photographer, Claire Foottit, is the great great great niece of William Cotton Oswell, the man who launched Livingstone as an explorer, on his first expedition to Lake Ngami in Bechuanaland (now Botswana) in 1849.
Artist and safari-operator, Mary-Anne Bartlett (director of Art Safari), is the great great great granddaughter of Sir John Kirk, doctor and naturalist on the Zambesi Expedition (1858-1864) in Nyasaland (now Malawi), who later became the British Consul in Zanzibar.
“In the bicentenary year of Livingstone’s birth this exhibition of paintings and photography is our personal celebration of our forebears who played an important role in Livingstone’s achievements,” says Claire Foottit.
“We have both been inspired by our family links with Africa, by David Livingstone and by the many people we meet in Africa who continue to forge for development, maintain strong family links and conserve a unique way of life which is often integrated with Africa’s natural wonders of wildlife and landscape,” says Mary-Anne Bartlett.
From Zambia to Zanzibar, Malawi to Mozambique, Botswana and beyond, this exhibition of vibrant photographs and enchanting watercolours of people, wildlife and landscapes encapsulates the essence of Africa today, yet also connects with a world of the past.
ENDS
Further information:
Claire Foottit: 0131 669 3335 mobile: 0774 086 5061 claire@foottitbydesign.com
Mary-Anne Bartlett: 01394 382235 mobile: 07780 927560 info@artsafari.co.uk
Images are available on request
Notes to editors:
Livingstone’s Africa exhibition is on at the Gladstone Gallery, Gladstone’s Land, 477b Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2NT (near the Royal Mile) from Tuesday 13 to Sunday 18th August, from 10am to 7pm daily.
Claire Foottit and Mary-Anne Bartlett will both be present at the exhibition venue.
Claire Foottit – an Edinburgh-based travel writer and photographer born in Kenya – has specialised in African tourism and conservation for over 20 years. Her work has been published by the national press and she’s also written and contributed to Bradt and Insight Travel guides. www.foottitbydesign.com
blog: www.safarihorizons.wordpress.com
Mary-Anne Bartlett is an artist and tour operator whose heart is in Africa. She paints in watercolour, writes for travel and art publications (author of Bradt Guide to Malawi) and teaches the art of sketching wildlife and landscape when she’s out on safari. Her company Art Safari was set up to run painting holidays in the African bush; the company has now spread worldwide, www.artsafari.co.uk and has a subsidiary bespoke travel wing called Close Encounters Africa, www.closeencountersafrica.com
Livingstone’s Africa is part of David Livingstone 200, a series of events celebrating the Bi-Centenary of David Livingstone. www.davidlivingstone200.org
Livingstone’s Africa exhibition complements a number of other ‘Livingstone-linked’ events taking place in the festival: Picturing Africa: illustrating Livingstone’s Travels at the National Library for Scotland, I Knew a Man Called Livingstone – also at the National Library for Scotland, by Toto Tales; Ângela Ferreira: Political Cameras at the Stills Gallery. Julie Davidson, author of ‘Looking for Mrs Livingstone’ at the Edinburgh Book Festival.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Claire Foottit. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Claire Foottit
Email: claire@foottitbydesign.com
