Born in Glencoe, Argyll, Scotland
Glasgow School of Art 1970-1975, studied Mosaic Murals under George Garson,
gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Design
Gained a degree in Geology through the Open University in 1985
Gained a Certificate in Field Archaeology (Glasgow University) in 1993
Worked on archaeological surveys in North Lanarkshire and Stirling Councils.
Member of the British Association for Modern Mosaic
Charter Member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists
1975 Assistant to George Garson on the Alan Davie Mosaic Mural,
Grangemouth Town Centre
1976 Mosaicist on the Mosaic Mural, Greenock Town Centre
1978 Second prizewinner, Stirling Smith Open Art Competition, Stirling
1998 Inaugural Exhibition, The Gallery Forteviot
1999 Naked Drawing Exhibition
The Gallery Forteviot Spring Show
The Gallery Forteviot Summer Show, The Gallery Forteviot
Two-man show 'The Argyll Boys' The Gallery Forteviot
Department for International Development, East Kilbride - 'A Sense
of Identity'
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts 138th Annual Exhibition,
Glasgow (buried)
Society of Scottish Artists 105th Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish
Academy, Edinburgh (juried)
Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy,
Edinburgh (juried) (Gained the Brenda Clouston Award)
Christmas Show, The Compass Gallery, Glasgow
Christmas Show, The Gallery Forteviot
2000 Spring Show, The Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
Spring Show, The Gallery Forteviot
Spring Show, The Barvas Gallery, Isle of Lewis
Aberdeen Artists'Annual Exhibition (juried)
Elected Professional Member of Visual Arts Scotland
Summer Show, The Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
Summer Show, The Gallery Forteviot
Two man show, The Gallery Forteviot
Christmas Show, The Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
Christmas Show, The Margin Gallery, Hamilton
Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy,
Edinburgh (juried)
2001 Spring Show, The Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
BAMM 'Cutting Edge'Exhibition, Exeter (Inaugural exhibition of
British Association for Modern Mosaic)
Summer Show, The Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
Lloyds TSB/Stenton Gallery 'Contemporary Art In Scotland'
Exhibition, Edinburgh Festival
Christmas Show, The Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
2002 Inaugural Exhibiton, Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA),
Orangeburg, North Carolina
The Stenton Gallery, Glasgow Art Fair
Spring Show, The Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
Spring Show, The Barvas Gallery, Isle of Lewis
Lloyds TSB/Stenton Gallery 'Contemporary Art In Scotland'
Exhibition, Edinburgh Festival
First prize, The Inaugural Exhibition of North Lanarkshire Arts
Association (juried)
Two mosaics purchased by the Scottish Institute of Sport for the
Boardroom of their new premises in Stirling
Christmas Show, The Stenton Gallery, East Lothian
Elected Vice-Chairperson, British Association for Modern Mosaic
IVèmes Rencontres Internationales de Mosaïque (Fourth
International Mosaic Encounters) Chartres, France 2003 Second
Exhibition, Society of American Mosaic Artists, Miami, Florida (juried)
Exhibition in the Morven Gallery, Isle of Lewis
Artist's statement
Growing up on the landscape of the west coast of Scotland engendered in me a
deep passion for geology and archaeology which has clear resonances in my work.
However this early interest owed much more to the purely visual and aesthetic
aspects rather than a concern with pure science. This came much later when I
studied for a degree in Geology through the Open University followed by a
course in field archaeology at Glasgow University.
Some years earlier I trained in Mural Design at Glasgow School of Art under
George Garson. Garson, a 'constructivist' mosaicist, proved a seminal influence
and introduced me to mosaic techniques. The emotional impact of seeing Garson's
superb mosaics for the first time remains a vivid memory. George also involved
me in the production of large-scale mosaic-murals including the huge Alan
Davie/George Garson mural at Grangemouth in Scotland.
Especially in marginally cultivated upland areas, Scotland is rich in the
remains of structures which tell of human habitation here following the retreat
of the great ice-sheets some ten thousand years ago. I measure, draw and
interpret the topographical context of these sites. Geological elements of the
location and construction materials are investigated and explained. This,
perhaps unconventional, marriage of art and science provides a powerful
stimulus for the creation of the mosaics.
Lately I have been particularly concerned in my work with the theme of
Prehistoric standing stones. These mysterious megaliths are to be found in many
parts of Scotland and at many other sites in western Europe. Although a theory
not widely held in the archaeological community, one possible explanation for
these intriguing stones is that they were a kind of primitive calendar. Using,
perhaps, solar and lunar alignments, times for sowing, harvest and rituals
would be predicted. This notion of alignment provides a very strong thread
permeating much of my work.
The primary materials used in the execution of these mosaic pieces is slate, as
much as 500 million years old. The slate is literally backbacked or ferried by
boat from disused quarry sites in Scotland such as Easdale, Ballachulish and
Aberfoyle. Other materials do make a limited but important appearance including
gold and silver-leaf smalti imported from Italy.
To summarise: My work, I hope, communicates a personal, emotional response to
the Scottish landscape, its geology and prehistory. Often the titles I give the
works employ academic terminology in an effort to draw a deeper contextual
response from the viewer. The mosaic however are never purely didactic or
decorative. they are essentially deeply felt, expressive artworks.
|
