It's all a bustle at KH this week as we ready ourselves for North East Open Studios (14th to 23rd September). After an extended break we return as a venue to host 3 wonderful artists - Alice Harman SBA, Nik Munro and Letitia Smith-Burnett.

Alice and Letitia are both very talented daughters of my grandmother Susan Burnett (the 9th laird of Kemnay). Alice inherited her mother's love for the garden and painting plants, becoming a renowned botanical artist, and member of the Society of Botanical Artists. Although based in Sussex, Alice grew up at Kemnay and is looking forward to showing her work in her family home once more. As well as working with watercolour, Alice also enjoys making jewellery and assembling intricate paper cuts which we will be selling along side her paintings, cards and prints.

Letitia, who still lives at Kemnay House and in Dunoon, is a successful artist working in mixed media to create vibrant pictures of the Scottish landscape. This year she has started making mini art, to wear or display, and these will be on sale for the first time at NEOS - Her abstracted, colourful gems brighten up the dullest of days.

Nik Munro is exhibiting with us for the second time, after showing her work at our pop-up Christmas shop last year. She is a very talented fine art photographer, specialising in carefully capturing pictures of local landscapes and wild animals, then digitally crafting them to create truly special images for prints, cards and even cushions.

As well as the amazing artwork on display in the front hall, inner hall and panelled room, there will be refreshments and the garden to enjoy (weather permitting).

We hope NEOS 2019 brings old friends and new visitors to Kemnay House, to share our beautiful surroundings and promote Scottish arts and crafts.