Jennifer McRae 2016

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