Ten Years On

Many of the paintings included have not been exhibited at Lemon Street Gallery, and I apologise if all of the works are not for sale. I’m hoping you will see his exhibition as a small celebration, to mark the ten years since his death on 13 September 2008, and a homage to a career which spanned more than forty years, that was deeply rooted in his training at Glasgow School of Art. I would like to thank my mother Nadia, my brothers Raymond and Martin and my sister Nicola for lending me paintings from their private collections.

By way of tribute to both my father and to the GSA I managed to borrow MacDonald’s easel from my mother. As I understand it, my father along with his artist friends rescued it one night from the Mackintosh Building’s rubbish pile circa 1960. It would have been a long walk home that night. The journey must have taken a few hours as I’m sure he would have been thirsty along the way! Travel always did play an important part in his artistic development. His trips to the Highlands of Scotland, Italy, Morocco and Greece were the inspiration for many of his paintings but as many of you will know, Cornwall he considered his second home having first visited St. Ives in the 1950s. There is the famous family story of my mother during one of their Cornish holidays asking my father to place a bet on The Grand National. The horse had an Italian name (of course!). The winnings of 10 shillings bought them an extra week’s holiday. On their way back to Glasgow they stopped in the Lake District, only to be turned away at the first B&B, as the proprietor exclaimed they did not allow “blacks and singles”. I do wonder at times if this country has come any further forward since then. I think the proprietor’s name was Boris, but I’m not sure. What a numpty.

MacDonald’s broad fluid style and bold palette place him directly within the continuing lineage of the Scottish Colourist tradition, whilst his ability to capture the atmosphere and vitality of his subjects is enhanced by a confident and mature style – a colourful personality about his paintings to which you immediately have to respond.

Hardly a day goes by when there is not a compliment or a request for his work, which I find quite remarkable. It makes me wonder if I ever truly appreciated just how good he was.

I miss my dad and any of you who had the pleasure of meeting him will know exactly why. I hope you enjoy this exhibition as much as I have enjoyed hanging it.

Louise

PUBLICATION: Ten Years On

Purchase Ten Years On

Purchase the Hamish Macdonald Ten Years On exhibition publication for £13 including p&p (£15 worldwide).

Location

UK £13.00 GBP Worldwide £15.00 GBP