Tsg frances macdonald beyond the island of storms

Frances MacdonaldBeyond the Island of storms

16 dundas street, edinburgh eh3 6hZ tel 0131 558 1200 emaIl mail@scottish-gallery.co.ukWeB www.scottish-gallery.co.uk

Cover: dutchman’s cap, lunga and Bac Beag from calbha, Julyoil on canvas, 61 x 81 cms, 24 x 32 inches (cat 18)left: ‘mV sgarbh’ moored off Crinan, looking to duntrune Castle

Frances MacdonaldBeyond the Island of storms

29 noVemBer – 24 deCemBer 2014

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foreWord

left: frances macdonald in her Crinan studio. Photograph by Craig easton

the idea for this exhibition, the artist’s fourth with the scottish Gallery, was for frances to do as she always does when faced with a studio empty of everything but stretched, pristine canvases: to go to Iona to make her start. however, rather than a fleeting visit this was a prolonged stay. hers is both a sailor’s and a painter’s understanding of the island, looking inward and out and she has added many new locations and aspects. like Peploe and Cadell before her she demonstrates a profound understanding of how the variation of weather and sea, and of aspect and viewpoint, makes the island an infinite giver of subjects. nosing around the little bays and coves, amongst the shoals of the West coast of the island in the family fishing boat has lent her new insights. the Island of storms at the north end is not ignored but now here are Port na fraig, the mermaids, Pulpit rock; vistas towards the Burgh and Ben mhor, on mull; eigg and the treshnish Isles. here also are yachts moored at st ronan’s Bay, a little picture of a beached boat and creels at martyr’s Bay, a cat on a corrugated roof by the Post office and the magnificent Bay at the Back of the ocean.

In 2013 frances was awarded the Charles rennie mackintosh residency at Collioure. these jewel-like, mineral dry canvases of Collioure and its hinterland add a warm counterpoint to the west coast of scotland. Wherever she is, frances’s eye is unerring, her technique dazzling and her appetite of hard work undiminished.

Guy PePloe

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1 cows rock and the ross of Mulloil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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2 sandy cove and sea Pinksoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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3 dutchman’s cap, lunga and Ulva on the Horizonoil on canvas, 96.5 x 127 cms, 38 x 50 inches

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4 Ben Mhor from rocky Pathwayoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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5 sea Fences, the north shore at calbhaoil on canvas, 61 x 81 cms, 24 x 32 inches

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6 Pathway to the north endoil on canvas, 20.5 x 25.5 cms, 8 x 10 inches

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7 February, cove in Thorny Ground. White strand of the Monksoil on canvas, 45.5 x 51 cms, 18 x 20 inches

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8 across the strait of the stormoil on canvas, 101.5 x 127 cms, 40 x 50 inches

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9 rock Pools and eddies at the Pulpitoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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10 Pulpit rock and the little Pinnacle at the north endoil on canvas, 91.5 x 137 cms, 36 x 54 inches

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11 dancing Waves at the north endoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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12 a Break in the clouds, camus cul a Taibh, Juneoil on canvas, 51 x 45.5 cms, 20 x 18 inches

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13 spring Tide, Port Bhanoil on canvas, 15 x 20.5 cms, 6 x 8 inches

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14 sea Pinks sheltering, June at the north endoil on canvas, 61 x 81 cms, 24 x 32 inches

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15 lobster creels Fionnphortoil on canvas, 20.5 x 25.5 cms, 8 x 10 inches

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16 Prawn Boats Fionnphortoil on canvas, 20.5 x 25.5 cms, 8 x 10 inches

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17 The Island of eigg in the distanceoil on canvas, 15 x 20.5 cms, 6 x 8 inches

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18 dutchman’s cap, lunga and Bac Beag from calbha, Julyoil on canvas, 61 x 81 cms, 24 x 32 inches

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19 ashore at Martyr’s Bay, Februaryoil on canvas, 25.5 x 20.5 cms, 10 x 8 inches

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20 Tortie on a Hot Tin roof, Ionaoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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21 cap Vermeille, côte catalone, Mayoil on canvas, 46.5 x 55 cms, 18 x 21.5 inches

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22 collioure and the Fort from Bar Maritimeoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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23 Boats ashore, collioure Plage de Port d’avalloil on canvas, 15 x 20.5 cms, 6 x 8 inches

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24 collioure, Fort st-elme and the Windmill from the old Townoil on canvas, 46.5 x 55 cms, 18 x 21.5 inches

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25 From the Mermaids, Ben Mhor and the Burghoil on canvas, 122 x 122 cms, 48 x 48 inches

26 Wintry Machair and storm Washed sands, February north endoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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27 nor’easter, Port na Fraigoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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28 sands of storm Islandoil on canvas, 15 x 20.5 cms, 6 x 8 inches

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29 lovely sunny day at the north endoil on canvas, 15 x 20.5 cms, 6 x 8 inches

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30 caesar’s skerry – Februaryoil on canvas, 76 x 101.5 cms, 30 x 40 inches

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31 stormy Weather – strait of the stormsoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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32 safely Moored in st ronan’s Bay, Juneoil on canvas, 61 x 81 cms, 24 x 32 inches

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33 ‘The Two Brothers Ballantrae’ in the canal Basinoil on canvas, 30.5 x 30.5 cms, 12 x 12 inches

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34 Ian’s Boat at crinanoil on canvas, 30.5 x 30.5 cms, 12 x 12 inches

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35 Grey skies over Mull from sgeir nam Martoil on canvas, 76 x 101.5 cms, 30 x 40 inches

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36 staffa Beyond Pulpit rockoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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37 cap Vermielle, Mayoil on canvas, 15 x 20.5 cms, 6 x 8 inches

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38 le Phare, Port Vendresoil on canvas, 30.5 x 30.5 cms, 12 x 12 inches

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39 céret, Franceoil on canvas, 45.5 x 40.5 cms, 18 x 16 inches

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40 alpes Maritimes beyond Plage de Port d’avalloil on canvas, 51 x 61 cms, 20 x 24 inches

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41 The Bay at the Back of the ocean, camus cul an Taibhoil on canvas, 101.5 x 127 cms, 40 x 50 inches

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42 low Tide Port Bhanoil on canvas, 45.5 x 40.5 cms, 18 x 16 inches

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43 ‘Birthe Marie’ moored in st ronan’s Bay

oil on canvas, 81 x 61 cms,32 x 24 inches

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44 emerald Breakers; February at the north endoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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45 Breaking seas on Finger rock at the north endoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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46 The Free Kirk and Irises, Ionaoil on canvas, 20.5 x 25.5 cms, 8 x 10 inches

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47 Treshnish Point from Ionaoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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48 Fionnphort across the sound of Iona from rocky cove – Februaryoil on canvas, 40.5 x 45.5 cms, 16 x 18 inches

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49 Treshnish Point from cows rockoil on canvas, 76 x 101.5 cms, 30 x 40 inches

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50 choppy emerald seas at the east Bayoil on canvas, 45.5 x 51 cms, 18 x 20 inches

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51 low Tide February Morning, towards the Broad skerryoil on canvas, 61 x 81 cms, 24 x 32 inches

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Born Glasgow

1983-1986 elected Council member, ssWa2004-2010 elected Council member, rGI2013 Charles rennie mackintosh residency at Collioure

solo exhIBItIons1975 Gallery Paton, edinburgh1977 shore Gallery, edinburgh1988 macaulay Gallery, stenton1989 sue rankin Gallery, london1993 the r.G.I. Kelly Gallery, Glasgow1994 the r.G.I. Kelly Gallery, Glasgow1995 the r.G.I. Kelly Gallery, Glasgow1996 the scottish arts Club, edinburgh1997 open eye Gallery, edinburgh1998 Cyril Gerber fine art, Glasgow1999 open eye Gallery, edinburgh2000 Portland Gallery, london2001 art 2001: the london Contemporary art fair2002 Portland Gallery, london2003 open eye Gallery, edinburgh2003 Portland Gallery, london2005 art 2005: the london Contemporary art fair2005 Portland Gallery, london2006 Portland Gallery, london2007 Portland Gallery, london2008 Portland Gallery, london2009 the scottish Gallery, edinburgh2009 Portland Gallery, london2010 the scottish Gallery, edinburgh2011 Portland Gallery, london2013 the scottish Gallery, edinburgh2013 Portland Gallery, london2014 the scottish Gallery, edinburgh

seleCted mIxed exhIBItIonsaberdeen art Gallery & museumsmclean museum Greenockthe royal scottish academythe royal Glasgow Institute of the fine artsVisual arts scotlandthe royal scottish society of Painters in Watercolour

ColleCtIonsadam & Company, edinburghhaines Watts Chartered accountants, Glasgowdrummond miller solicitors, edinburghfirst national Bank, usafred olsen Cruise linesGleneagles hotelhalifaxI and h Brown ltdmisys PlCCapital Property Grouproyal Bank of scotlandrobert fleming holdings ltdstenna shipping lineaberdeen asset managementand private collections worldwide

franCes maCdonald

right: frances macdonald in her Crinan studio, october 2014. Photograph by Gordon thomson

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Published by the scottish Gallery to coincide with the exhibition franCes maCdonald: Beyond the Island of storms29 november – 24 december 2014

exhibition can be viewed online at www.scottish-gallery.co.uk/francesmacdonald

IsBn: 978-1-910267-08-0

designed by www.kennethgray.co.ukPhotography by John mcKenzie with additionalphotography by Gordon thomsonPrinted by Barr Colour Printers

all rights reserved. no part of this catalogue may be reproduced in any form by print, photocopy or by any other means, without the permission of the copyright holders and of the publishers.

16 dundas street, edinburgh eh3 6hZ tel 0131 558 1200 emaIl mail@scottish-gallery.co.ukWeB www.scottish-gallery.co.uk

right: Crinan

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