Born in 1942. Grew up in the East Lothian fishing village of Port Seton. The sea, fishing boats, fish and birds figure large in his personal iconography. Many of his works indicate a personal anguish which, it has been said, has lessened since a serious illness which resulted in a liver transplant operation. I hope that's true. I'm daft enough to wish happiness for everyone.
He spent some early artistic years in France where he was heavily influenced by post-impressionism, particularly Cézanne. His own style developed after he returned to Edinburgh in 1909. He and Peploe made painting expeditions to the island of Iona during the summers in the 1920s which he continued in the 1930s. The resulting paintings featured a distinctive restricted palette and stylised rendition of shapes. The colours in these paintings were more subdued than those of his other works, Edinburgh society portraits and interiors.
Sculptor as well as painter. Originally influenced by Whistler, he spent the years 1907-1914 in Paris where he was influenced by Fauvism. The essence of his approach was a boldness of execution coupled with striking colour.
His technique was somewhat different from the other 'Colourists' showing a looser style. Still lifes and landscapes were his main subjects and he used rich colours and strong textures in the execution. Peploe reckoned that he was in the same class as Matisse.
He spent 1910 in France where he was influenced by Cézanne and the Cubists. He and his friend Cadell made frequent summer painting visits to Iona in the 1920s. His style features bold brushwork and clear structures. He made many paintings of the same subject, honing his technique.
Born in London and moved to Glasgow in 1939 where she painted many street-life scenes. In contrast she is also famous for her land and seascapes, often painted at or near the village of Catterline where she had a cottage. These works show great freedom of execution and energy. Brilliant!
In the mid 1880s he lived in the village of Cockburnspath with other "Glasgow Boys". His paintings from this period are said to show the Barbizon influence and the conscious, if sentimental, realism seen in the work of Bastien-Lepage. His later career was that of a successful society portraitist in Glasgow. ('Show me the money.')
Colour and line were central to his work and the picture A Galloway Landscape made a big impression when exhibited at the R.S.A. in 1891. It has been suggested that the influence of Gauguin can be seen but it is unlikely that he had ever seen any of Gauguin's work. He moved to London and was a founder member of the Chelsea Arts Club.
Born in Australia. His parents were Scottish. He collaborated with George Henry on a couple of large pictures and accompanied him to Japan, in 1893, where Japanese art influenced them both in their interest in the decorative quality of line and colour.
Born in Belfast, studied in Paris, then spent a year at Grez-sur-Long near the forest of Fontainebleau. He met the famous Bastien-Lepage who supposedly influenced all the "Glasgow Boys". However, when he was commissioned to paint Queen Victoria's visit to the International Exhibition in Glasgow (1888) the resultant works apparently seemed more influenced by Whistler. It's funny how the most famous are always supposed to influence the less famous and never the other way round. Oh, well.
Later, as with Guthrie, he became a successful society portraitist. (Sigh.)
The lucky woman spent ten years on the Côte d'Azur before returning to Scotland in the mid-'thirties. Supposedly much influenced by Matisse because of her use of colour and free application of paint. That's the sort of 'expert' opinion you'll hear a lot when artists are discussed. If you have the chance to see her work then decide for yourself. Whatever, later her work featured heavy impasto as well as a strong emphasis on contrasting colours. Texture and colour inspired by visits to France and Spain.
© Copyright Len Nicholson, 1996 - 2000. All rights reserved.