Welcome to The Divine 9 — a collective of nine Ayrshire artists brought together under the guidance of Gillian Park for an extraordinary six-month creative journey. The Divine 9 Collective Mentoring Programme has been designed to encourage, support, and challenge each artist to reach new heights — building confidence, ambition, and storytelling through their work, and culminating in a final collection that celebrates each artist’s personal evolution and creative spirit.
Each of the Nine brings their own world to the table — different stories, different lives, and different ways of seeing. Some balance their artistic passions alongside full-time careers, others live and breathe their practice.
Between them you’ll find paint, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, and even reimagined furniture — a glorious mix of colour, texture, and form that reflects the creative diversity of Ayrshire itself. Together, they’ve formed not just a group, but a community — one that listens, learns, and lifts each other higher.
Join us as we celebrate the art, the people, and the place that make Ayrshire truly DIVINE.
VIEW CREATIVE PROGRAMME
Each of the Nine brings their own unique world to the table — their own stories, experiences, and perspectives. Together, they span paint, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, and even reinvented furniture — a vibrant blend of colour, texture, and form that beautifully mirrors the creative spirit of Ayrshire itself.
Our sessions and the final Divine exhibition all take place in the glorious Barony Centre in West Kilbride — once a church, now a beacon for Scottish craft and contemporary art. With its soaring ceilings, carved stone details, and luminous stained glass, it’s a place that hums with history and light — the perfect backdrop for The Divine 9 Exhibition and Creative Programme, running 10th January to 8th February 2026.
Alongside the exhibition sits a fantastic calendar of creative events designed to kickstart your creativity for 2026, offering something for everyone — from art lovers and collectors to galleries seeking exciting new artists to champion.
The Divine 9 is a celebration of what happens when creativity, coaching and community collide — a showcase of talent, courage, and imagination that promises to fill the Barony with colour, conversation, and inspiration.
Join us as we celebrate the art, the people, and the place that make Ayrshire truly DIVINE.
I didn’t start out as an artist, but it didn’t take long for me to realise I wasn’t meant to follow a traditional path. After a career in graphic design and juggling 13 different jobs (yep, you read that right!), I embraced my entrepreneurial spirit, launched my own design business in 2004. But I’d always known deep down that I wanted to be a painter. In 2010, after 20 years away from a brush, I picked it up again. Fast forward to 2016, and I took the leap to become a full-time professional artist.
Since then, my art business has taken me places I never dreamed of. I’ve had the honour of meeting the King through my work at Dumfries House, travelled to LA to learn from some incredible coaches, and published my bestselling book, Don’t Be a Starving Artist®. I've stood on stage at Old Trafford speaking to 250 people, exhibited my work across Scotland, and most importantly, I’ve had the privilege of teaching and inspiring amazing people to embrace their own creative journeys.
What I love most is that my journey is far from over. Every year, my business grows and evolves, keeping things fresh, exciting, and full of new opportunities. I wake up every day eager to see what’s next.
My mission in life to show other artists that with the right mindset and tools, you can turn your passion into a sustainable business and prove to the world that art IS a real job and you CAN make money doing what you love!
Click below to find out more about GP Art and my online Art Academy, where you’ll find a whole raft of practical art courses and of course our monthly online art club, GPs Creative Coorie.
