Michael Clark Artist CV
Michael Clark is a contemporary Scottish artist known for his bold use of colour, expressive brushwork, and modern figurative style. Working primarily in oil, he creates vibrant, Read more energetic paintings inspired by food, gardens, sport, and everyday life. His work is widely collected in the UK and internationally, and he is represented by Red Rag Gallery, a leading specialist in Scottish modern art and contemporary British painting.
Michael Clark was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1959. He studied at the Edinburgh College of Art from 1979 to 1983, a formative period that shaped his early artistic direction. A passion for film led him to spend six years working for the BBC in Glasgow, where he developed a strong sense of visual storytelling and atmosphere. In 1989 he moved to London, working as a freelance art director and illustrator. During this time he returned to painting with increasing enthusiasm, drawn back by what he describes as “the lure of watercolour dragged across paper and the tangible excitement of materials.” By 1994, he had committed to painting full time.
In 1999, Clark returned to his native Scotland, where he continues to paint from his studio. Although he began with watercolour, he now works mainly in oil, using strong colour, texture, and light to create striking modern paintings. His subjects often reflect his personal interests — good food, wine, gardens, and sport — all of which appear throughout his lively and expressive compositions. Clark describes himself as “a messy worker,” embracing the spontaneity of working from life. His watercolours often begin with loose charcoal drawings and large brushes on wet paper, a technique that keeps the work fresh and dynamic.
Michael Clark has exhibited widely across the UK, with many solo and mixed shows in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and beyond. He has won numerous awards and is a member of both the Paisley Art Institute and the Glasgow Art Club. His paintings are held in private and public collections worldwide, admired for their colour, movement, and contemporary Scottish character.
Red Rag Gallery represents Michael Clark’s work, sourcing each painting directly from the artist’s studio. Like all Red Rag Scottish art and modern British art, his paintings can be shipped worldwide, making his work accessible to collectors across the globe.
For more information or to buy Scottish modern art from Michael Clark:
CALL RED RAG NOW on 01225 332223 or outside UK +44 1225 332223
