A Highland artist has set up a new internet business to market her paintings to an international audience.

Ros Rowell is known for her watercolour paintings of Highland landscapes, and particularly her atmospheric skies. However, following serious illness in the family, which required her to become a full-time carer, she was unable to devote as much time to painting.

It was then that Ros came up with the idea of producing high quality, limited edition prints of her work. She also realised that by marketing them on the internet, she would be able to reach a far wider audience.

The new business, Scottish Highland Art, will target the demand for limited edition prints, particularly from American, Japanese and European collectors.

Ros received advice and a start-up grant of £1,500 from Inverness and Nairn Enterprise (INE), and also attended a three-day e-business course at The Green House in Inverness organised by the local enterprise company.

“I have really been very impressed with the support INE has given me,” said Ros. “The financial assistance was obviously very helpful, but most valuable has been the advice and support they have provided.

“They’ve come up with ideas and organised courses, and my business adviser keeps in touch regularly to make sure everything is going OK. It’s a real comfort to know that there is help out there if I need it.”

The website has been designed and is managed by her son Calum Hutchinson. People all over the world can log on to the site and order prints direct from GicleeUK, an Edinburgh-based printer. The Giclee process uses archival inks and museum quality papers to produce a high quality finish.

Ros explained: “Giclee prints are recognised by major museums and art galleries as superior in permanence and colour to conventional prints. This means the print should be an investment and maintain its beauty for many, many years.

“Each print is produced in a limited print run, is dated and numbered and individually signed by me.” 

Ros has been painting professionally since the early 1990s, selling her work from her studio and in various galleries in Scotland and London. She is still painting and selling original watercolours, but the production of prints gives another dimension to her work.

Maria Peter, business development manager at INE, said: “INE was delighted to be able to provide both financial and advisory assistance to Ros as she embarked on this new venture. Ros has come up with an innovative way to combine her artistic talent with new-found IT skills. This new business will also enable her to increase and maximise the revenue she receives from her work while allowing her to maintain her responsibilities as a carer.”

Ros has recently produced Christmas cards for charity and donated some of her original works to charities for auction. She is happy to hear from any other charities who feel they could benefit from her work.

For further information about Scottish Highland Art, log on to www.highlandart.com or contact Ros by email: artist@highlandart.com