Ishbel Macintosh: An International Artist Who Really Cooks

A Conversation with Ishbel Macintosh

How long have you considered yourself an artist?

I have been an artist since a very young age and it influenced many forms in my life; fine art, arts and crafts, gardening, interiors, cooking — to me it’s like breathing. I don’t have a “certificate” for art school, but I did attend my mother Brenda Macintosh’s “school of resilience/educational bootcamp” from the age of 2 until I left home at 17. My mother was an art teacher and passionate educator, and protector of Scottish heritage arts, crafts, and literature. She loved storytelling, as do I. She opened my world to so many important things that I do and love to this day.

How long have you been coming to the Hamptons?

Since I was 22 years old. Aside from weekend excursions I was stationed throughout various Hampton villages as a private chef from the late ’80s s until the late ’90s. I loved the quality of ingredients. The vegetable stands and seafood are unparalleled. You can find the best of the best in the Hamptons and it enabled me to enjoy the cooking so much over the years. I also love driving through the tree-shaded lanes of the Hamptons.

Who or what inspires your art?

Hieronymus Bosch, the Dutch painter who died in 1516 was also the son of a minister of the church. The resulting imagination that he had is other level, as is his attention to detail. I also love the work of contemporary American artist Alexis Rockman who paints rainforests beautifully. In the Hamptons, the Pollock-Krasner house never fails to be a moving experience as the simple and connected-to-nature style of their lives very much resonates with my own sensibilities.

What brought you to Brazil?

On a rainy night in 1992 on Columbus Circle in New York City, I bought a stack of National Geographic magazines from a homeless man. I became obsessed with photographs of the Brazilian rainforest and its outrageously, brilliantly colored plants, and wildlife. This was the beginning of me experimenting with collage in addition to oil painting. The Island of Florianopolis is stunningly beautiful and offers many things apart from its 41 beaches and waterfalls.

I’m very stimulated by my garden. I also listen to some very good jazz drumming.

I live on a lush and forested hill overlooking a large salt water lake that leads to the dunes and the ocean in the background.

You spent time in London after New York. What took you there?

In 1998 until 1999 I was the co-founding host with Jonathon Karsh of a Discovery Channel/CondeNast TV show and website called Epicurious. We became the top-rated food show. But one month after 9/11, I left behind the life that I had built over 18 years. The American part of the dream had been coming true for me as a fine artist and a self-taught chef. But I accepted a marriage proposal and moved to London.

My husband made films for Ferrari. After narrowly missing one of the North London tube station bombings, I felt it was time to find a non-strategic place to live. Florianopolis was my goal. I wanted to give  my daughters a similar lifestyle to the one I had growing up in South Africa and Scotland with plenty of freedom.

Artists don’t always live by a credo or guiding phrase, but everything seems to have influenced your work, is that fair to say?

Yes, I think so. The majesty of nature in the places that I have been fortunate to live in — South Africa, Scotland, Brazil and the USA — has been one of the most significant blessings, connections and inspirations of my life.

Bill McCuddy isn’t at all artistic and to prove it still makes popsicle stick sculptures. He and our friend/contributor Bill Boggs share Ishbel as a friend and wanted to help tell her story by sharing her art.