Marion Thomson

Marion Thomson was born in 1958. 

 

The unique landscape of the Scottish west coast and its many islands have always attracted me. Each of these islands have their own character and outlook. Over the years I have walked or cycled most of them from Islay in the Southern Hebrides to Lewis in the Outer Hebrides there is a sense of something different in these islands, the pace of life and the friendly people and their lifestyle.

 

On the islands you can experience all the seasons in a matter of hours, sometimes minutes. Weather passes quickly and no one day starts or finishes the same as another. The quality of light here is also of a more intense nature, bouncing of a glittering sea, making the colours of the big sky,the machair and mountains seem more alive and complex.

 

In recent years I have made repeated trips to Islay, Iona, the Uists and Harris. It goes without saying that Iona has always been a favourite with artists and I am no exception. It has those special qualities an artist looks for, colour, light and visual interest. Mull and the smaller islands as a backdrop the ‘North End’ of Iona is a great spot to paint from. Islay is a wilder place with many lonely coastlines to intrigue the painter.

 

Although I spent a good few years on the Isle of Lewis working for the Gaelic drama ‘Machair’, I never made it down to the string of island that make up Eriskay, the Uists and Berneray until a couple of years ago. Endless beaches with a mountain backdrops, huge skies and a still vibrant crofting community inspire many of my paintings. From Berneray I can pop over to Harris with it's rocky landscapes and white beaches.

 

Equipped with paints, sketchbooks, sketching easel and camera and the hope of some varied weather, blue skies are lovely but sometimes it’s good to have a bit of a storm! I then begin gathering material that I can then take back to my studio. I will walk and cycle the coastlines stopping to sketch and paint on the way. I always visit my favourite painting spots which are many but foray into new areas to find the unexpected. I enjoy the whole experience of being there from the amazing birdlife and plants to the ancient remains of past settlements.

 

Back in the studio I can start distilling my material into a finished work. I prepare my own canvases in order to have a surface which I feel comfortable painting on. Working on several paintings at the one time, it can take a few weeks before I am happy with the final result. Using both palette knives and brushes in a piece and introducing layers of colour and texture as I go helps me recreate that feeling of light and colour from the islands.

 

 

1976-78  Glasgow School of Art, 1 year Foundation course, 1 year Drawing and Painting

 

1978-81  Glasgow University, M.A. History of Fine Art, Drama, Film and Television

 

1981-99  Working as Freelance Costume Designer in theatre, film and tv, painting alongside 

                     Exhibited with Laing landscape competitions

 

1999-2000  Solo show with the Harbour Arts centre in Irvine

                            R.G.I. show in McLennan Galleries

                            Mixed winter show with  the Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven

 

2001  Solo show with the The Firth Gallery,Edinburgh

 

2002  Exhibiting with scotlandart.com

              Mixed show with the Gold Gallery, Edinburgh

              Heinzel Gallery Christmas Show, Aberdeen

              Compass Gallery Christmas Show, Glasgow

 

2003  Solo show with The Compass Gallery at The House for an Art Lover, Glasgow                      

              Glasgow Art Fair, Compass Gallery

              Gold Gallery, Edinburgh                                             

               Paisley Art Institute annual exhibition

               Mansfield Gallery, Glasgow, West End Festival, Landscape Exhibition

              Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen, Summer Show

              Compass Gallery,Cabinet paintings

              Compass Gallery , Winter Show

              Heinzel Gallery, Winter Show

              Mansfield Gallery, Winter Show

              Scotlandart.com Winter Show

 

2004  Glasgow Art Fair, Mansfield Gallery

              Heinzel Gallery, Summer Show

           .  Mansfield Gallery, Landscape Show

              Scotlandart Glasgow Group Show

              Scotlandart Edinburgh Group Show    

              Compass gallery Winter Show

              Heinzel Gallery Winter Show

              Mansfield Gallery Winter Show

              Scotlandart.com Winter Show 

 

2005  Scotlandart.com, Glasgow Art Fair

              Scotlandart.com group exhibition ‘Sail Away’

              Summer exhibition, Mansfield Gallery

              Summer exhibition, Gallery Heinzel

              Exhibiting with Thompson’s Marylebone, London

              Edinburgh Art Fair with scotlandart.com

              Dublin Art Fair with scotlandart.com

              Compass, Winter Show

              Heinzel Winter Show

              Scotlandart.com, Winter Show

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2006  Blackheath Gallery, London, Mixed Show

              Thompson’s Marleybone, London, Scottish Show

               Scotlandart.com, Modern Scottish Landscapes, two person show  

              Mansefield Park Gallery, 8x8 mixed show

              Karen Taylor Fine Art / scotlandart.com mixed show, London

              Gallery One / scotlandart.com mixed show, Sussex

              Edinburgh Art Fair, scotlandart.com

              Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie Christmas Show

              Smithy Gallery, Strathblane Christmas Show

              Scotlandart.com Christmas Show

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2007  Smithy Gallery ‘Out of the Mist’ group show

              Paisley Art Institute Annual Exhibition

              Kranenburg FineArt, Oban Summer Show    

              Thompson’s Marleybone

              Smithy Gallery, Summer Show

              Tolquhon Gallery, Ellon, Summer Show

              Smithy Gallery Autumn Show

              Scotlandart Christmas Show

              Smithy Gallery Winter Show

              RGI Annual Show

              Lime Tree Gallery, Old Melford “Caledonia”

              Red Rag Gallery, The Scottish Show

              Smithy Xmas Show

                      

2009  ‘Warming Up’ Smithy Gallery

              Spring Exhibition Smithy Gallery

              Paisley Art Institute Annual Exhibition

              The Affordable Art Show Smithy Gallery

              ‘Aqua’ Scotlandart

              ‘Ship to Shore’ Scotlandart

              Aspect Prize 2009 show

              The Lime Tree Gallery, Bristol, Water, Water

              Scotlandart Christmas Show

              Smithy Gallery Christnas Show

           .  Ealain Gallery Christmas Show

​

2010  Smithy Gallery ‘Affordable Art Show’

              Smithy Gallery Spring Show

              Paisley Art Institute Annual Exhibition

              Lime Tree Gallery ‘Highlands and Islands’

              Red Rag Gallery ‘Scottish Show’

              Kranenburg Fine Art Summer Show

              Scotlandart Christmas Show

              Smithy Gallery Christmas Show

              Lime Tree Winter Show

​

2011  Affordable Art Show Smithy Gallery

              Postcard Exhibition Scotland Art

              ‘Caledonia’ Scotlandart

              Summer Show Smithy Art Gallery

              Tolqhoun Gallery Summer Show

              Lime Tree Gallery Bristol Summer Show

              Smithy Gallery Christmas Show

              Lime tree Christmas Show

              Tolqhoun Gallery Christmas Show

​

2012  Postcard Exhibition scotlandart.com

              Affordable Art Show Smithy Gallery

              Summer Show Lime Tree Gallery

              Summer Show Heinzel Gallery

              Summer Show Tolqhoun Gallery

              Winter Show Lime Tree Gallery

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2012  Christmas Show Tolqhoun Gallery

              Winter Show Smithy Gallery

              Christmas Show Heinzel Gallery

              Christmas Show The Gatehouse Gallery

 

2013  Affordable Art Fair Smithy Gallery

              Glasgow School of Art Alumni scotlandart.com

              Heinzel Galery Summer Show

              Smithy Gallery Summer Show

              Lime Tree Gallery ‘Water, Water’    

              Macmillan Cancer Research Auction, Bonhams, Edinburgh

              Scotlandart.com Christmas Show    

              Smithy Gallery Affordable Art Show

              Lime Tree Gallery Christmas Show

                

2014  Chelsea Art Fair with Lime Tree Gallery

              Affordable Art Exhibition, Smithy Gallery

              May Array Lime Tree Gallery, Bristol

              Spring Exhibition Tolquhon Gallery

              Summer Exhibition, Gallery Heinzel

              Summer Exhibition, Lime Tree Gallery, Old Melford

              Summer Exhibition, Lime Tree Gallery, Bristol

              Summer Exhibition, scotlandart.com

              Macmillan Cancer Support exhibition at Bonhams, Edinburgh

              ‘The Lonely Sea and the Sky’, Tolquhon Gallery

              Christmas Exhibition, Tolquhon Gallery

              Winter Exhibition, Gallery Heinzel

              Christmas Show, Fotheringham Gallery

 

2015  25th Anniversary Summer Show, Gallery Heinzel

              Still Life Exhibition, Fotheringham Gallery                            

              Lime Tree Gallery, Summer Exhibition

              Summer Exhibition, Tolquhon Gallery

              Summer Exhibition, Gallery Heinzel

              Scotlandart.com 

              Christmas Exhibition, Lime Tree Gallery

               Winter Exhibition, Gallery Heinzel

              Christmas Exhibition, Tolquhon Gallery

 

2016  Spring Exhibition, Tolquhon Gallery

              ‘Colour’, Lime Tree Gallery

              ‘12 Scottish Artists’, Lime Gallery

              Summer Exhibition, Tolquhon Gallery

              Summer Exhibition, Gallery Heinzel

              Summer Group Show, Leiper Gallery

              The Affordable Art Show, Smithy Gallery

              Art for Care, Marie Curie

              Autumn Show, The Green Gallery