Artists need opportunities for their work to be seen, discussed and with luck, purchased. Since 2000 Alloa has been fortunate to have McFarlanes Gallery. As the oldest running venue of its kind in the town, not only does it serve the painters and crafters, it also provides the public with an eclectic array of artwork to view and purchase. It also helped set Alloa on the map to becoming the Artist and Makers town it is today.

The man behind the concept of bringing art into the town centre is local businessman Neil McFarlane. Neil grew up surrounded by original art, his family background includes architects, painters and crafters and of course the family business in jewellery, so no wonder he has an appreciative eye and genuine enthusiasm for the subject. When the business moved premises to its current location, Neil saw the potential of having art on display.

Originally paintings were hung in the main shop, arousing interest from customers as they looked through the window, however it was fate which decided the development of the back storage space into the purpose built gallery which remains today. A tale of double booking by a local arts group for Alloa Tower and the timely coincidence of a business contact selling up his own gallery provided not only the impetus, but the investment purchase of a complete hanging system. Within 5 weeks of working frantically to a deadline the storage space was transformed, and with natural light from the skylight revealed, it was an ideal space to hang work. Since then there have been ongoing regular shows, alternating between group exhibitions and open exhibitions which Neil curates and hangs himself. The schedule is so popular that there is generally a waiting list of a year and a half for groups to exhibit.

There have been many highlights and collaborations with other projects, including the international Storytelling Festival, in its Clackmannanshire launch year, when the world renowned Japanese wood block printer Paul Binnie, originally from Alloa, was delighted to be invited and have his work featured in the Eastern Roots themed storytelling event held in the gallery in 2010 .The Alloa Musical players held their 60th anniversary celebration at the gallery in 2013.

One charming anecdote involves a nameless lady who after many years of not painting was finally persuaded, reluctantly, to exhibit at the Christmas show. Lacking confidence of her talent she refused to attend the opening. A few days later she was encouraged to visit with a relative. “See!” she exclaimed, “they haven’t even hung one of my works!”. The fact was she had sold all three almost immediately.

I first met Neil when exhibiting at the inaugural exhibition 13 years ago. Neil is a modest man, a commissioned work by Carol Mason hangs permanently in the foyer, part of the award he won in 2004 for services in the Arts by Clackmannanshire Arts Forum. Yet he still insists he doesn’t know how he claimed the prize. It seems evident to the rest of us exactly how.