Meet Eve Tong - an Edinburgh based artist who loses herself in tiny watercolours of Scottish landscapes. With an eye for detail and a heart of an adventurer, Eve captures the beauty of rolling hills and swirling seas. I visited the artist in her space at Abbeymount Studios to ask about her art and life.
1. Dear Eve, can you tell us more about your creative process and how you put nature on paper?
I’ve always loved being outside hiking, swimming, and discovering new places. So
when I moved to Edinburgh and started to explore, I became inspired by the Scottish landscapes. Certain aspects always catch my eye; tiny hidden bothies in the hills, dramatic hillscapes, colours in the heather. I like to stay present when I’m out exploring and soak in the feeling of being there but I will also snap a few pictures and make a few quick sketches to work on when I get back to my studio. I use these feelings and memories to help capture the beauty and atmosphere in my paintings.
A5 Arthur's Seat Risograph Print
2. How do you make space to find yourself surrounded by landscapes?
Being outside is something I value emphatically, and so I make a conscious effort to prioritise getting out into the landscape and away from the city as much as possible! This year my friend Eilidh and I set ourselves a wee goal of hiking once a month, and this has challenged us to explore new hills. It’s a time for us both to feel more grounded, and it has great benefits for my art and mental wellbeing.
Tiny original watercolour by Eve
3. We love your tiny art here at Curiouser. Does size matter to you? In what way?
For a long time I have been obsessed with anything and everything tiny, collecting
tiny ceramic houses and miniature art. Scale is really important to me, because I
have to slow down and take a minute to really look at the detail in my painting, and that triggers the feelings I get when I’m outside exploring and being inspired by nature. I think this is how I connect with my audience; something so small can
transport you to a different place and time, a snapshot of an adventure, and a
memory to keep revisiting.
Original tiny landscapes by Eve
4. I know that you also work with people in a studio where you support people in
printing and ceramics. How does that experience influence your art?
I love my job at Tiphereth and the work I do with community members has been the biggest catalyst for me to grow and feel more in touch with my artistic side. I work alongside people with a diverse range of talents and skills, and together we create some pretty cool work. I’ve been part of so many amazing projects – it’s a very practical job and I love having the freedom to experiment and explore. I’m always learning more about myself, and seeing how others successfully navigate through their creative process is also fascinating.
Acrylic painting and Eve working in her studio in Edinburgh
5. How do you feel about the different mediums you work with?
I use a variety of mediums in my practice. Having studied printed textiles at
university, I love screen printing and the depth and finish you can get with that. I tend to lean towards watercolour and pen drawings, as the finish captures my subject matter really well on the scale at which I work. I am always looking to try new mediums to fuel my creative mind, and for example I’m currently experimenting with some mini mountains in clay!
Warm-coloured sketches by Eve
6. Is there anything you are currently working on? Please share some glimpses
into it.
I am always building my collection of mini paintings. I had a fabulous road-trip with
siblings this summer to the Isles of Mull and Iona. Lots of walking, sea dips and good views. I will be releasing a number of images from this trip in the next few weeks. Hopefully these collections will continue to grow as I explore more of Scotland. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Edinburgh, so I am also releasing some new drawings of our City which I am really excited about! I think Curiouser customers may have already had a sneak peek at these.
Mini Line sketches and Arthur's Seat Screenprint by Eve Tong
7. Can you tell me how you find the studio you are currently using? How is life at
your creative hub?
Having been in Abbeymount Studios for around a year now, I can really see the
positive impact it has had on me as an artist. It’s a lovely, busy, imaginative
environment with other creatives across so many disciplines and at different stages of their careers! I find this incredibly motivating, and I enjoy bouncing ideas off others and feeling part of a community. My little space at OOTB Abbeymount allows me to be as messy as I want and has helped me to have a dedicated space to create.
Isle of Iona - tiny watercolour by Eve
8. If you could choose one animal you could transform into whenever you wanted - what would it be?
I’d love to be a bird, to escape and fly whenever I want and have that freedom to go anywhere. I could bag a lot the Munros that way!
Eve working on one of her tiny paintings
9. What advice would you give yourself 5 years ago? What advice would you
give to a budding artist?
My advice to myself would be to keep creating, create what you love and find a
community you can share that with. And then move to Scotland!
To budding artists I’d say: . Enjoy your art and keep searching for a subject that
really inspires you, something that you’re excited to explore. For me that change
happened when I moved to Scotland, forming new friendships and finding new
inspirations. My practice has bloomed in the past year more than I could ever have imagined and reflecting on this makes me happy and proud. My best advice is to get inspired and don’t put pressure on yourself to produce your best work all of the time. It’s easy to forget, but creating will always be an up-and-down process and you have to ride the wave!
Eve Tong near her Edinburgh studio
10. Where can people find your work?
You can find my work on my Instagram @eve.tong18 and on my etsy pages. I’m lucky enough to have my work stocked in some beautiful shops and galleries around Scotland. Of course, here at Curiouser and Curiouser, The Red Door Gallery and Òr on the Isle of Skye.
I am always pleased to discuss commissions of mini landscapes that are special to others, so feel free to contact me to discuss this!