Joe Hargan was born in Glasgow, 1952. He studied drawing and painting at the Glasgow School of Art from 1970-74 under Danny Ferguson James Robertson and David Donaldson

Joe Hargan has exhibited regularly his contemporary paintings since the early 1970's at: the Royal Glasgow Institute of Art; Royal Society of Watercolors; Royal Scottish Academy of Art; The Paisley Art Institute; Royal Academy, London; Dick Institute, Kilmarnock; British Watercolor Society & National Portrait Gallery

Joe Hargan is a founder member of Group 81 Artists who regularly exhibited at McLellan Galleries, Glasgow. In 1981 Hargan was elected a member of the Glasgow Art Club. Then in 1985 he became a member of the Paisley Art Institute and later that year elected a council member. In 1989 Joe Hargan was nominated and voted Chairman and President of the prestigious Art Institute. Hargan held the post for 11 years.

In 1996 for the quality of his paintings and his service to Scottish art Joe Hargan was awarded the Paisley Art Institute diploma. The Art Institute was founded in 1876 and has built up a substantial art collection of Scottish Art. It promotes contemporary art through its annual exhibition and also organises the notable Scottish Drawing Competition every two years.

The body of Joe Hargan paintings are remarkable for their diversity. But his paintings are immediately recognisable and follow the rich tradition of vibrant, bold colourist Scottish paintings. Contemporary paintings by Joe Hargan of the renowned character 'Sniffy' have featured in many of his paintings and are now collected by art lovers worldwide. Over the years Hargan has been awarded a number of art prizes reflecting and rewarding the quality and breadth of his talent.

Hargan draws inspiration from many sources: Italian renaissance art, Spanish art, American influences such as Rothko and Newman; and of course British artists Francis Bacon, Philipson and David Donaldson

Painting Prizes and Art Awards:

Contemporary Painting Prize, Glasgow School of Art, 1972 First Prize, National Competition - Stirling Smith Art Gallery, 1978 Cargill Art Award, Royal Glasgow Institute, 1982 Torrance Award, Royal Glasgow Institute, 1984 Meyer Oppenheim Award, Royal Scottish Academy of Art, 1986 Hunting Art Group Prizewinner, Mall Galleries, 1988 The Paisley Art Institute Award, 1993 The Contemporary Fine art award, The Paisley Art Institute, 2001 Maude Gemmell Hutchison Prize, Royal Scottish Academy of Art 2002 William Bowie Award, Paisley Art Institute 2002 Joe Hargan paintings feature in numerous private and corporate art collections throughout Europe, USA, Canada, Brazil, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. These include: BBC, Kuwait Royal Family, Flemings Bank and Bloomberg collection

In addition to Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery Joe Hargan art work has been exhibited at other leading Scottish Art Galleries. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Joe Hargan artist studio and like all Red Rag British art and Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

This is the Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery website page for Portrait paintings from leading contemporary artists. Red Rag Gallery has a great collection of contemporary Scottish Art which extends to Portrait paintings. The art of Portrait painting has existed for centuries. Historically, portrait paintings were primarily commissioned by the rich and powerful. More recently portraits are more likely to be of families and colleagues and are commissioned by individuals, governments, corporations, groups and clubs.

Each featured artist in Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery portfolio of contemporary Portrait paintings can be viewed by clicking on the artist name. Information on price, size and availability for portrait paintings can be viewed by clicking on the image of each portrait.

Each contemporary Portrait painting shown on the Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery website has been sourced from the art studio of artist. This guarantees you that the paintings are genuine pieces of contemporary art from the artist.

Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery is open every day for the purchase of Scottish Art and Portraits. For all purchases of contemporary Portrait paintings Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery offer a worldwide art shipment service

Many Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery artists are available to undertake your own portrait commissions. A portrait commission is a special and very personal art piece. It is useful to remember when you commission a portrait that you are engaging in an interpretation of the sitter through the eyes of the artist. Visiting the artist, seeing work 'in the flesh' and talking through details of the portrait commission is all part of the portrait painting process. Portraiture artists at Red Rag include Darren Baker, David Cobley , Simon Davis and Charles Hardaker

To view the Portrait art work of each artist simply click on the artist's name or image. If you would like to purchase or require further information about Red Rag Scottish Art portrait paintings please contact the gallery.