Duncan Shanks
Duncan Shanks Works on Paper 1957-2013 3-30 June 2015
16 Dundas Street, Edinburgh EH3 6HZ Telephone 0131 558 1200 Email mail@scottish-gallery.co.uk www.scottish-gallery.co.uk
Cover: The Shore – Culzean, 1984, watercolour on paper, 29 x 60 cms (detail) (cat. 28) Left: Resting, 1965, pastel on paper, 33 x 42.5 cms (detail) (cat. 5)
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foreword A private man, Duncan Shanks prefers to work free, unobserved, and alone, and has always felt reticent to exhibit his work.
studies. When exhausted as useful reference points for future work, these studio studies are consigned to a large chest located in the basement of his house.
Since 1997 he has worked chiefly with The Scottish Gallery, producing a series of focussed exhibitions reflecting his responses to universal themes such as Nature and Time through paintings carefully pre-selected by him.
When Guy Peploe heard of the opening up of the chest as part of The Hunterian project, he asked whether he too could look through its content with a view to organising an exhibition. To his surprise the artist agreed and the result of Guy’s trawl through the chest is presented here in this show.
I first encountered Duncan’s work through his sketchbooks and studio studies as part of a five-year research project based at The Hunterian, University of Glasgow, and founded on the artist’s generous gift of his entire production of sketchbooks – 106 and counting. The research has led to a new understanding of the role of sketching and drawing in Duncan’s work, and is highlighted in The Hunterian’s current exhibition, Duncan Shanks Sketchbooks: ‘The Poetry of Place’ (14 March – 16 August 2015), and in its accompanying publication. Unlike his paintings, Duncan’s sketchbooks were never intended to be seen by others. As such they offer an uncensored insight into the artist’s working process, thoughts and aspirations. Ideas first explored in these sketchbooks were often subsequently developed in studio
This is not a retrospective but a selection of studies – many being works of arts in their own right – spanning five decades. Often related to series of paintings and to specific sketchbook studies, they explore nature from every angle and reflect the richness of Duncan’s varied approaches to drawing and painting. Whether atmospheric evocations in ink and wash, moody mixed media works or semi abstract rearrangements of the landscape, this exhibition provides glimpses into one artist’s remarkable journey from his student days to maturity, and into his search for a language to describe impermanence. Anne Dulau BEVERIDGE Curator – Hunterian Art Gallery
Right: Self Portrait, 1975, gouache on paper, 46 x 30 cms (detail) (cat. 14)
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1 Jim Hardie, 1957 pastel on brown paper 40 x 28 cms
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2 A Street in Florence – Italy, 1961 pen and ink on paper 28.5 x 37.5 cms
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3 Self Portrait – Florence, 1961 pen and ink on paper 33 x 23.5 cms
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4 The Old Cart – Islay, 1963 gouache on paper 30 x 34.5 cms
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5 Resting, 1965 pastel on paper 33 x 42.5 cms
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6 Snow Berries, 1969 oil on paper 52 x 33.5 cms
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7 Hedgerow – Coo Road, 1969 watercolour on paper 50 x 63 cms
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8 White and Pink, 1969 oil on paper 56.5 x 39 cms
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9 The Studio Cat, 1969 watercolour and pastel on paper 56 x 60 cms
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10 The Oil Lamp, 1970 gouache on paper 53 x 71 cms
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11 Model Resting, 1970 oil and compressed charcoal on paper 49 x 47.5 cms
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12 The Old Apple Orchard, Crossford, 1972 watercolour and pastel on paper 51 x 61.5 cms
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13 The Clyde – Summer, 1975 oil pastel on paper 51.5 x 58 cms
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14 Self Portrait, 1975 gouache on paper 46 x 30 cms
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15 Washing Day, 1978 gouache on paper 53 x 72 cms
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16 Fence across the Burn, 1978 watercolour on paper 39.5 x 54 cms
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17 Shower – Tinto, 1979 gouache on paper 57 x 81 cms
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18 Park Trees – Autumn, 1979 gouache on paper 56 x 63 cms
opposite: 19 Bedroom Window, 1979 watercolour and pastel on paper 75 x 56 cms
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20 The Studio Door, 1980 watercolour on paper 55 x 75.5 cms
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21 The Clyde in Spate – Crossford Bridge, 1980 pastel on paper 43 x 37.5 cms
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22 Roberton Burn, 1981 watercolour and pastel on paper 52 x 54 cms
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23 Cut Flowers, 1982 watercolour on paper 39 x 52 cms
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24 Patterns in the Sand – Culzean, 1984 watercolour and pastel on paper 34.5 x 45.5 cms
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25 The Receding Tide – Culzean Beach, 1984 watercolour and pastel on paper 34.5 x 44 cms
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26 Shore Window – Culzean, 1984 watercolour on paper 40.5 x 55 cms
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27 Shore Burn – Culzean, 1984 watercolour on paper 52 x 73 cms
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28 The Shore – Culzean, 1984 watercolour on paper 29 x 60 cms
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29 Flowers, 1985 gouache on paper 56 x 76 cms
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30 Above Coulter, 1990 watercolour on paper 36 x 50.5 cms
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31 Summer Path – Crossford, 1993 acrylic on paper 70 x 100 cms
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32 Snowshower – The Clyde, Crossford, 1995 watercolour and pastel on paper 56 x 69 cms
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33 Downpour – Tinto, 1995 acrylic on paper 25.5 x 24.5 cms
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34 Above the Waterfall – Talla Reservoir, 1995 acrylic on paper 41.5 x 29.5 cms
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35 Gannet, 1995 acrylic and collage on paper 25.5 x 21.5 cms
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36 The Fall, 1996 acrylic on paper 70 x 76 cms
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37 The Nethan River – Moonlight, 1998 acrylic on paper 43 x 42 cms
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38 Moonlight, 1998 watercolour and charcoal on paper 56 x 70.5 cms
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39 Flying Free, 1999 acrylic on paper 28.5 x 26 cms
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40 Christmas, 2000 acrylic on paper 43.5 x 46.5 cms
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41 Rooks, 2000 acrylic and collage on paper 100 x 71 cms
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42 The Edge of the Field, 2000 acrylic on paper 21.5 x 25.5 cms
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43 Valley Sunset, 2001 acrylic on paper 38 x 41 cms
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44 Rocks and Scree – Tinto Path, 2005 acrylic and pastel on paper 28.5 x 39.5 cms
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45 Tinto Gully, 2005 acrylic and pastel on paper 39 x 40 cms
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46 Greenhouse, 2007 acrylic on paper 30.5 x 37.5 cms
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47 Hedgerow and Meadow Flowers, 2009 acrylic 35 x 34.5 cms
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48 Storm Clouds Approaching, 2011 acrylic on paper 21.5 x 18 cms
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49 Storm Clouds – Crossford, 2012 acrylic on paper 49.5 x 70.5 cms
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50 Summer Fields, 2012 acrylic on paper 49.5 x 66 cms
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51 Mountain Sunset, 2012 acrylic on paper 33.5 x 33.5 cms
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52 Mist over the Valley, 2013 acrylic on paper 70 x 71 cms
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53 Magic Towers I, 2013 acrylic on paper 38 x 38 cms
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Duncan Shanks RSA RSW RGI 1937 1955-60 1960 1961 1966 1967 1979
Born in Airdrie Studied Glasgow School of Art Post Diploma and Travelling Scholarship to Italy Part-time lecturer at Glasgow School of Art until 1979 Married Una Gordon, a fellow artist and lecturer at Hamilton College of Education Moved to Davingill House, Crossford Became a full-time painter
Member of 1972 Elected Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy 1982 Elected Member of the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts 1987 Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour 1990 Elected Full Member of the Royal Scottish Academy Solo Exhibitions 1974 First solo exhibition, Stirling University 1981 Duncan F. Shanks, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 1984 Duncan Shanks Recent Works, The Fine Art Society, Glasgow and Edinburgh 1988 Falling Water, Talbot Rice Art Centre, University of Edinburgh; Crawford Centre, University of St. Andrews; MacLaurin Art Gallery, Ayr; catalogue introduction by Duncan Macmillan 1990 Contemporary Art Season, Duncan Shanks, Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow 1991 The Fine Art Society, Glasgow and Edinburgh 1991-92 Patterns of Flight, Wrexham Arts Centre Touring Exhibition; catalogue introduction by Roger Billcliffe 1992 Roger Billcliffe Fine Art, Glasgow 1994 The Creative Process, Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow; catalogue introduction by Chris Allan Hill of Fire, Roger Billcliffe Fine Art, Glasgow 1997 Of Wet and of Wildness, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 1998 Duncan Shanks Capriccios, Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow 2000 New Paintings, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2002 Beyond the Valley, Art London, with The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2004 Along an Overgrown Path, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2006 Air, Fire and Rain, Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow 2007 In a Summer Garden, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2008 Duncan Shanks, Art London, with The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2009 In Search of Time Past, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2012 Across a Painted Sky, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2013 Drawing the Year, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2015 The Poetry of Place, Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow Works on Paper 1957-2013, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
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Selected Group Exhibitions 1971 Art Spectrum Scotland, Scottish Arts Council Touring Exhibition 1975 Five Glasgow Painters, Edinburgh Arts Centre 1981–82 Contemporary Art from Scotland, Touring Exhibition arranged by The Scottish Gallery Scottish Painting, Toulouse 1984 Weather, Scottish Arts Council Travelling Gallery 1985 About Landscape, Edinburgh Festival Show, Talbot Rice Art Centre, University of Edinburgh Western Approaches, South West Galleries Association Contemporary Scottish Art, Rio de Janeiro 1986 Ten Scottish Painters, Upstairs Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts, London 1988 The Scottish Show, Oriel 31 Touring Exhibition, Wales 1989 Ten Contemporary Scottish Painters, Thackeray Gallery, London 1991 Looking at Nature – Looking at Art – Approaches to Landscape, Dundee Art Galleries and Museums 2000 Scottish Landscape, The Scottish Gallery 2003 Six RSA Artists, University of Central Florida 2015 Modern Masters IV, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh Awards Scottish Arts Council Award Latimer Award and Macaulay Prize, Royal Scottish Academy Torrance Award, Cargill Award and Macfarlane Charitable Trust Award, Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts May Marshall Brown Award, Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour Provost’s Prize for Contemporary Art, Goma, 1996 Royal Bank of Scotland Award, RGI, 2001 Public Collections Arts Council of Great Britain Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie Dunbartonshire Education Authority Lothian Schools Picture Collection Dundee Art Gallery Low Parks Museum Edinburgh City Art Centre Pitlochry Festival Theatre Glasgow Art Gallery Strathclyde Regional Council Education Authority Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea University of Edinburgh Government Art Collection University of Glasgow Highland Council University of Stirling Tapestry commissioned by Coats Viyella, woven by Edinburgh Tapestry Company, presented to Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 1991
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Private Collections Works in many private and corporate collections in Britain, Germany and North America including: Arthur Andersen & Co, Glasgow Bank of Japan Clydesdale Bank plc Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation Halifax Building Society Reader’s Digest, New York Ross, Harper & Murphy, Glasgow Rowntree Mackintosh plc Royal Bank of Scotland Scottish Amicable United Distillers plc William Teacher and Sons Ltd Literature 1990 William Hardie, Scottish Painting: 1837 to the Present, London Duncan Macmillan, Scottish Art: 1460–1990, Edinburgh 1993 William Hare, Contemporary Painting in Scotland, Edinburgh 1996 Duncan Macmillan, Scottish Art in the 20th Century, Edinburgh 2015 Anne Dulau Beveridge, The Poetry of Place, Duncan Shanks’s sketchbooks and the Upper Clyde, Glasgow Films Scottish Television, The Scottish Picture Show, 1988, with Duncan Macmillan Scottish Television, Talking Pictures, 1992, with Vivien Hamilton BBC Education Scotland, Looking at Scottish Art, 1996
Duncan Shanks and Phoebe in his studio, 2011; photograph: John McKenzie
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Published by The Scottish Gallery to coincide with the exhibition Duncan Shanks Works on Paper 1957-2013 3-30 June 2015 Exhibition can be viewed online at www.scottish-gallery.co.uk/duncanshanks ISBN: 978-1-910267-16-5 Designed by www.kennethgray.co.uk Photography by John McKenzie Printed by J Thomson 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 Telephone 0131 558 1200 Email mail@scottish-gallery.co.uk www.scottish-gallery.co.uk
Right: Mist over the Valley, 2013, acrylic on paper, 70 x 71 cms (detail) (cat. 52)
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