Malcolm O'Connell

Mirrors that hold more than reflections. Each frame carries the rhythm of my own growth through making, layered, carved, and lived with. These particular pieces were first designed over a decade ago, and I still make them today for people who want something that feels personal and enduring. They’re carved by hand from birch plywood. Not the most sustainable choice, but a material I return to for its strength, and the way it reveals its layers when shaped and carved. That layered honesty is something I seek in all my work. I love how these mirrors catch the light, and how they invite touch, and how they quietly become part of a space. #art #design #interiors #mirrors #mrocart

Last night, my flat became a light installation, unexpected, vivid, and strangely deliberate. A wild, malfunctioning streetlight threw electric blue across the walls, sculptures, and furniture. It felt like James Turrell had slipped in unannounced, installing a show without permission. Light plays a quiet but constant role in how I sculpt and make, shaping spaces and surfaces in ways I often chase deliberately. This time, it found me. And sometimes, those are the best performances. #JamesTurrell #Art #Sculpture #Light #installation #interiordesign #MrocArt

There’s a quiet magic in a tenement bay window as autumn deepens. Each morning, golden light spills across the room, catching the edges of two paintings above my fireplace. Both depict the same woman foraging beneath a canopy of turning leaves, steady, purposeful, timeless. She reminds me what it means to keep going, even as the world shifts around you. These past few weeks have brought their share of quiet hurdles, life, work, the ifs and buts, the lingering insecurities that settle like dust. But somewhere in the rhythm of making, painting, and simply living, I’ve found a deeper resilience. Not the loud kind. The kind that settles in your soul. The kind that knows change isn’t the enemy, it’s an invitation. Autumn teaches us to shed not out of loss, but wisdom. Trees lighten their load, feed the soil, and prepare for rest. I’ve been doing the same, clearing clutter, mending what’s frayed, letting go of what no longer serves, and making space for what might. Maybe that’s the real work, not chasing uncertainty, but learning to live in the present. The future will always be a shifting horizon. If we spend all our time worrying about what’s next, we miss the grace of what’s now. Each evening, I settle back into the bay window with a coffee in hand, the original radiator humming gently beneath the bench, wrapping the space in a quiet warmth. Light spills in low and golden, catching the edges of the paintings, those autumnal scenes of strength and solitude, dancing across the walls and sculptures, casting long shadows and soft glows. It’s more than routine. It’s a ritual. A moment of stillness where art, memory, and the turning world outside seem to speak in unison. And in that quiet, I’m reminded. We’re not behind. We’re becoming. We’re not alone. We’re together. And in shedding what’s no longer ours to carry, we grow stronger, individually, yes, but also collectively. Like trees in a forest, each letting go, each preparing to rise again. Here’s to the season of shedding. To the beauty of change. To the quiet work of becoming whole. #AutumnReflections #ResilienceInSeason #BayWindow #Mrocart #Autumn #art #onwardsandupwards

Every evening the West Sands puts on a show, no ticket required. The light dances like a broadway finale, casting colours you couldn’t dream up. No palette beats nature’s own. If your day’s been heavy, this place knows how to lift it. The breeze (gentle or not), the warmth, the tide’s quiet rhythm… It’s grand. It’s grounding. It’s a wonder, every single time… I feel very lucky to have this on my doorstep… 💃🏼🎟️🍿🌅🫶🏻

A little early in my reflections maybe, but I’ve been doing a lot of it recently. And I think next year marks a decade since I joined Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design as a member of the faculty. Ten years of sawdust and sketches, of questions asked and answers discovered through making. Ten years of watching students grow into confident, curious makers, each one shaping not just wood or paintings on canvas, but the future of art and design. I run a woodwork shop, a space that hums with energy and invention. It’s used daily by students from every discipline, and there is genuinely never a dull moment. You learn a tremendous amount from students and staff alike. Every day brings new challenges, new perspectives, and new reasons to be proud of the work we do together. I want to congratulate my colleagues, technicians, tutors, support staff, and everyone behind the scenes, for everything they’ve accomplished and everything they continue to do to improve the quality of what we offer. This place is a worldclass facility, not just because of its equipment or reputation, but because of the people who make it what it is. Art and design is considerably more than just disciplines. They’re ways of thinking, of feeling, of responding to the world. They’re about problem solving with your hands, storytelling through materials, and finding meaning in the smallest details. Whether it’s a painting, a sculpture, textiles, a lamp, a digital illustration, or a piece of furniture, each object carries a story, and each story adds to the legacy of this place. It’s worth pointing out that no one has it all figured out. Not the ones with fancy titles, polished degrees, or seats at the top table. We’re all stumbling forward, learning, failing, trying again. That’s the rhythm of growth. So go ahead with the knowledge that we are all together. To those just starting out, welcome. To those who’ve been here a while, thank you. And to the place itself, long may it last and long may it produce magic. Here’s to the next decade of making, learning, and growing. #art #design #education #community #djcad

I’ve recently unpacked all my handcrafted wooden tractors, each one made from locally sourced scottish hardwoods. I found myself quietly thrilled by the possibilities they still hold, especially after so long in storage. These aren’t just objects, they’re invitations. To touch, to play, to imagine. Sculptural, yet mobile. Ornamental, yet functional. They can be whatever you Want them to be, a toy passed between generations, a keepsake tucked into memory, or a quiet companion on a shelf. That modular, tactile versatility is what I love most about making. It’s not just about the form, it’s about how people live with it, interact with it, and make it part of their own story. My approach to craft, art, and design is rooted in connection, to the material, to the process, and to the people who surround me. while my work carries the imprint of Scottish and Norwegian landscapes, it’s equally shaped by the creative influences of my family. Their ways of making, whether through music, textiles, storytelling, or quiet acts of care, have evolved in me. I see their influence in the way I shape materials, sculptures and paintings. And in the way I consider placement, and in the way I strive to make things that feel good to live with. Sustainability, for me, isn’t just about responsible sourcing. It’s about creating objects that endure emotionally and physically. Things that are future proof, not because they resist change, but because they invite it. Because they carry stories. Because they belong. #ScottishAsh #AshDiebackAwareness #TactileDesign #FunctionalArt #Woodworking #CraftedWithCare #MaterialMatters #MadeToLast #RuralHeritage #Art #Design #Craft

New home, new layout, same old soul. I’m perched on a stool I made years ago. Solid. Steady. Familiar. As I settle into the space, I’ve been placing things slowly, letting them find where they belong. One sculpture caught my eye from behind the sofa, an older piece, made alongside a commission. I liked it so much, it stayed with me. It mirrors the style of the little round carving I shared, same spirit, just stretched and deepened. My smaller works often plant the seeds for larger ones. It’s a quiet evolution. It doesn’t have a name yet, but its story began with a boathouse in Norway, a place woven into my childhood. The sculpture’s slatted form echoes the timber walls that stood between granite and sea. On quiet days, the wind and rain would stir soft ripples across the surface, brushing against the stone. That rhythm and gentle motion meeting stillness, shaped the way this piece came to life. The making wasn’t simple. Peaceful at times, challenging at others. But today, it’s found its place, the morning light catches it just right. I’ll mount it properly soon, but for now, it belongs. Art isn’t just an activity. It’s problem solving, remembering, learning. And today, it’s about belonging in the work, in the space, in the moment. #WoodArt #Sculpture #CreativeProcess #NatureInspiredArt #ScandinavianDesign #NordicDesign #ContemporaryCraft #MinimalArt #ModernSculpture #WoodCarving #StudioLife #SustainableArt #ArtistOnInstagram #Maple #Londonplane #Oak #Ash #Beech #art

Two decades into this journey, and I’m still surprised by the quiet power of my simplest works. This little round carving, one of hundreds I’ve made, might just be one of my favourites. Wood doesn’t offer shortcuts. It demands patience, precision, and respect. There’s no hiding behind effort; the grain tells the truth. And yet, that’s the beauty. The most unassuming forms often carry the deepest resonance. This piece is inspired by the rugged Norwegian coastline, raw, weathered, and enduring. Like the land and sea itself, it speaks softly but holds its ground. My practice has evolved over the years, shaped by experimentation, failure, and a love for materials that tell their own story. Sculptures, paintings, ornaments and furniture, they all carry that lineage. But sometimes, it’s the smallest, least complicated forms that feel the most complete. #WoodArt #WoodCarving #CreativeProcess #ScandinavianDesign #MinimalArt #ContemporaryCraft #SustainableCraft #ModernSculpture #Sculpture #Art #SustainableArt #NordicDesign

A brilliant day for a hike up Schiehallion 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙 #hiking #hikingadventures #trailtime #hikinglife #mountainviews #hikinginscotland #scotlandhiking #walkhighlands #scottishhighlands #scotland #munro

✨ Centre Court dreams came true at the @wimbledon final — an experience I’ll never forget. Sunshine, tennis, and the best @pimmsgb I’ve ever had 🍹💜💚 Still buzzing after seeing @chrishemsworth and @helenmirren sitting right in front of us (legendary!) and catching a glimpse of @officiallymcconaughey in the royal box 🎬🎾 Big love to @michellesutherland.co — when are we getting on the court then? 😄 #Wimbledon #WimbledonMagic #SummerMoments #StarstruckSips #GameSetMagic #London

A few days in London with absolutely perfect weather and fab company @michellesutherland.co . It’s quite the city to walk around in and enjoy a wine along the way…#london #visitlondon #londonlife #thisislondon #londoncity #lovelondon #timeoutlondon #londonphotography #igerslondon #londonstyle

#pyramids #scotland #exploringscotland #visitscotland #scotlandexplore #lovescotland #hiddenscotland #balmoralpyramid #princealbertscairn #cairngormsnationalpark #royalroute #hiddenlandmarks