 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 Autumn Evening 2 - acrylic on board - 83cm x 37cm - £1250 |
"My paintings are not about one particular place or event,
but are built up from many experiences, thoughts and images from the past
and present: Surroundings in Glasgow, books I have read, music,
moods, childhood memories and journeys to other countries. Colour
and texture are very important and very pleasurable to me - they sometimes
become more important than the subject I am painting
I have a very basic approach to art. When I look at a painting I either like it or I don't. The artist may have described at great length the meaning of each detail of the painting, but if I do not react to the work then that is it. Again, it may be interesting to understand what was behind the work, but this alone will not sell it for me.
I say very little about my own work. Each painting comes from a different source and sometimes I do not even know where the source is. Many of my paintings are full of symbols or images relating to events, thoughts, ideas from my life, but I am not going to bore the viewer with such details. The viewer will bring all of their own memories with them, and will either connect in some way with what they see or they will not. I like mystery, I do not want everything explained to me, I like to discover for myself."
Biography
I was born in a wee tenement room in the Castlemilk Housing Scheme on the
South Side of Glasgow in 1961. I did not enjoy my years at school,
but despite this studied for a number of Highers and was encouraged by
my art teacher to apply to Art School. At the completion of my Highers
I decided to opt out of further education to find work. I began
an apprenticeship in my uncles small upholstery business, leaning ot refurbish
antique furniture. I stayed with my uncle for five years whilst drawing
and painting in my spare time.
In 1983 I began a diploma in Art and Design at Cardonald College, Glasgow. Since completing this course I have taken up painting full time. My first show was a solo exhibition in a friends flat, in the West End of Glasgow in 1985 - this show gave me confidence to pursue a career as an artist.
Solo Exhibitions
1985 Private Show in West End of Glasgow
1992 90's Gallery, Glasgow
1993 Aldessan Gallery, Clachan of Campsie
Conerstone Gallery, Dunblane
1995 Conerstone Gallery, Dunblane
1997 Hotel Gorfion, Malbun, Liechtenstein
1998 Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen
Mixed Exhibitions
1989 - 91 90's Gallery, Glasgow
1991 Aldessan Gallery, Clachan of Campsie
1991 - 92 Edinburgh Gallery, Edinburgh
1992 90s Gallery, Glasgow
Westgate Gallery, North Berwick
1993 - 96 Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen
1994 Gallery Wollebrandshof, Culemborg, Holland
1996 - 97 Glasgow Art Fair
1997 Scotland on Sunday/ Noble Grossart Prize Exhibition
Royal Academy, Edinburgh and Glasgow
School of Art
1998 Laing Art Competition, Scotland Street School, Glasgow
SAAC Annual Exhibition, ROyal
Academy, Edinburgh
1999 Battersea Art Fair, London (Strathearn Gallery)
SAAC Exhibition, ROayl Academy,
Edinburgh
Strathearn Gallery, Crieff
Glasgow Art Fair, (Riverside Gallery)
2000 Richmond Hill Gallery, Surrey
Glasgow Art Fair, (Strathearn
Gallery)
1995 Painting, "Storm Clouds and Fields" used as front cover for A.W. Manion's book,
"Agriculture and Environmental Change". (Pub: John Wiley and Sons, Chichester).
1996 Factory Mural for Joseph Schweger - UNIGRAPHICA AG. Liechtenstein.
