Malcolm Cheape was born in 1964. He is a graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee.

Malcolm Cheape's primary subject matter is the contemporary and historical world of commercial, industrial and naval shipping. This includes decommissioned fishing boats, private yachts, modern day trawlers, tall ships and battle ships. The Scottish east and west coast gives Malcolm the ideal background from which to capture the grace and character of commercial water-bound vessels. He is avid natural historian and through researching the archives of the British maritime museums, and investigating the history and design of boats gone by, Cheape's art work attempts to mirror both past and present. This dedication and passion for maritime subjects has earned him a reputation as one of the leading Scottish and UK marine artists.

Maritime historian and archaeologist, Dr R G W Prescott of the University of St Andrews and Chairman, National Historic Ships said of his work, “I am frequently disappointed by the work of present day marine artists whose work often seems lifeless and insipid to me. Not so with Malcolm Cheape’s paintings however, which I find deeply satisfying because of their authenticity and ability to evoke the vital spirit of ships and boats. Put plainly, they are convincing and simply beautiful to look at.”

Malcolm Cheap works primarily in ink and acrylic. His clever usage of collage - including Scottish poetry, financial records, engineering drawings, hydrological charts, and mythological iconography - makes his paintings truly unique. Relying on tonal effect, a limited range of colours and clever use of collage, his paintings are strikingly distinctive capturing the grace and beauty of the old sailing ships, the vigour and power of warships and the special charm of fishing boats working the Scottish waters.

In addition to Red Rag Art Gallery Malcolm Cheape modern art work has been exhibited at other leading Scottish Art Galleries. His work is in many public collections including the City Art Centre in Edinburgh, the Perth Art Gallery, the McLean Collection in the Greenock Art Gallery, and in many private art collections around the world. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Malcolm Cheape artist studio and like all Red Rag Modern art and Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.