jennifer mcrae RSA hinterland
THACKERAY GALLERY Est 1968
with thanks to narcissus, edinburgh
front cover image : the Andrew Carnegie breakfast
Artist Jennifer McRae in her Edinburgh studio
detail of golden times
golden times oil on linen - 183 x 76cm
golden times This work is specifically a celebration of the world around us. It is about that moment of happiness and the sheer delight it brings, however transient. The painting is trying to hold it, to keep it. In a way it’s a reactive painting as it is a reaction to all we are informed of in the present state of contemporary fears. It’s personal time out. A time of play Jennifer McRae 2016
billowing
queen of the night tulips
three tulips together
all above works are watercolour on hot-pressed paper - 15 x 10cm
deep peonies
tulips wide open
irises
a family portrait
all above works are watercolour on hot-pressed paper - 15 x 10cm
billow
Kyle from golspie, skibo watercolour on linen paper - 56 x 40cm
Colin from hague, skibo watercolour on linen paper - 56 x 40cm
hinterland oil on linen - 110 x 170cm
Hinterland As a painter, the freedom to create one’s own private world is an extremely privileged experience. A possible escapism but the totems are from reality, the observation in real time portraying experiences and contemporary places travelled to. Jennifer McRae 2016
family grouping oil on linen – 25 x 13cm
lineage oil on linen – 25 x 11cm
kangaroo paws oil on linen – 30 x 16cm
mixed species in harmony oil on linen – 30 x 15cm
a gentleman unknown, the carnegie club, skibo oil on linen - 117 x 45cm
co-existence
tensile strength
tulips from source
all above works are watercolour on hot-pressed paper - 15 x 10cm
irises moving
stage in life, peonies
up close, tulips
evening orchids
all above works are watercolour on hot-pressed paper - 15 x 10cm
blood peonies
primavera oil on linen - 115 x 130cm
Primavera This work reflects upon memory of the enclosed and magical world of pre adulthood; focussed awareness within a very private place. Children are like film makers; they self document their days within their imaginations and their observed daily reality; there is no foreboding of tomorrow. Jennifer McRae 2016
four hearts delight oil on linen – 26 x 9cm
females, contemporary flowers oil on linen – 26 x 12cm
delicacy & fortitude oil on linen – 25 x 10cm
wild exotic orchids oil on linen – 30 x 11cm
from within, amaryllis oil on linen – 22 x 36cm
mystery – watercolour on hot-pressed paper – 20 x 20cm
hidden treasures, skibo castle – watercolour on hot-pressed paper – 18 x 26cm
the Andrew Carnegie breakfast watercolour on hot-pressed paper – 33 x 36cm
triumph oil on linen – 36 x 15cm
irises, spring oil on linen – 30 x 18cm
nature oil on linen – 30 x 16cm
evening scents oil on linen – 32 x 18cm
the quiet ones oil on linen – 30 x 13cm
fragile orchids oil on linen – 31 x 16cm
BIOGRAPHY
Jennifer McRae studied painting at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen from 1987-1992 and received a First Class Degree in Fine Art. In 2002 Jennifer moved to London after being offered a bursary place on the Drawing Year at the Prince's Drawing School. Over the years she has received awards from the BP Portrait Award, the Hunting Art Prizes, the Singer Friedlander and Kaupthing Watercolour prizes, the Morrison Scottish Portrait award, the Worshipful Society of Painter Stainers, London and the Royal Scottish Academy Exhibitions. In 2008 she was the first Prize Winner in the RWS Sunday Times Watercolour competition and was also for the third time a Prize Winner at the Lynn PainterStainers Prize Exhibition held at Mall Galleries in February 2013. In May 2014, she won the Ondaatje Gold Medal, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, London and was Artist in Residence in 2015 at the Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle, Dornoch (courtesy of AIR residencies) Jennifer creates work that combines reality with imagination, working from life while adhering to her own sense of detail and expression of design. This particular way of working in turn feeds her inspirations regarding her commissioned portraits, opening up contemporary possibilities to reflect the sitter’s world. Jennifer's work has been exhibited both in the UK and the US and she has often used travel to search out new inspiration to feed the creative process. Her work can be found in many public collections including the National Portrait Gallery, London, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Reading Museum, Singer & Friedlander, Aberdeen Arts Gallery, Garrick Club, London, Lord’s MCC Museum, The Royal Society, London and The Royal Collection, Windsor. Her work is also included in private collections both in Europe and the US. Jennifer’s latest portrait commissions have included Dame Judi Dench and Sir Chris Hoy. She has just completed her 3rd commission for the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London. Jennifer McRae is a Royal Scottish Academician and has been exhibiting with Thackeray Gallery since 2007.
Published by Thackeray Gallery Ltd © Thackeray Gallery, 2016 Photography by Douglas Atfield