The blog series bringing to life the Art In Healthcare collection continues, as Mina shares their insight into the work of artist Margo Sandeman.
Image: ‘High Tide’ by Margot Sandeman
This week we will be talking about this painting by Scottish Artist Margot Sandeman titled ‘High Tide.’ Sandeman would regularly go on trips with friend and artist Joan Eardley to Arran where they stayed in a small bothy called ‘Tabernacle.’ Here they would paint in the open air and document the landscapes around them as well as painting portraits of neighbours and friends. Margot was born into a family of artists; her mother Muriel Boyd would make artworks using embroidery and fabric and her Father Archibald Sandeman was a watercolourist. Interestingly, all three of the Sandeman family were curated in a show in 2011 at the Hughson Gallery in Edinburgh. Here, Margot Sandeman’s ‘At home in Bearsden and Corrie’ was shown, suggesting a home within the gallery alongside her family’s pieces.
Sandeman studied at Glasgow School of Art and it was here she met her friends and contemporaries Joan Eardley and Ian Hamilton Findlay, who she would regularly collaborate with throughout her career. Another of her contemporaries at Art School was well known art critic and painter Cordelia Oliver who highlighted contemporary Scottish painters and often wrote about Sandeman’s work. Cordelia also wrote about many other notable Scottish artists, such as Pat Douthwaite, another artist whose work which we’re lucky to have in our collection.
Sandeman’s style has an illustrative quality to it with decorative patterns sitting alongside the subject matter of landscapes and portraiture. Her colour palette reflects the Scottish landscape of muted greens, reds and purples.
An interesting thing I’ve noticed whilst writing these blog posts is the connection between many of the artists I get to write about. Whilst researching this blog post I found links between Sandeman and Ian Hamilton Findlay, who’s work we also look after in our collection. Ian Hamilton Findlay was also connected to Andy Goldsworthy who I wrote about recently. As well as Sandeman being linked to Pat Douthwaite through Cordelia Oliver, who’s work I researched in one of the first blog posts. It’s so exciting to see how the Art in Healthcare Collection links together and each piece is connected through time and history. I’m excited to see what other connections we find throughout the collection and to share them with you all!
Image: Margot Sandeman’s ‘High Tide’ in the Art in Healthcare store
Caring for the Collection is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland.
Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to dedicate time to improve the condition of our artworks currently in our store, so that they will be able to be displayed in health and social care settings across Scotland.
Museum & Galleries Technician Modern Apprenticeship is supported by Museums Galleries Scotland provider of the apprenticeship, mentor and SCQF level 7
1 April 2026 by
Amy Miles