Nael Hanna

Hanna turns his attention to the shores near St Andrews, capturing the drama of shifting light across land and sea. The horizon glows with warm tones of pink, orange, and gold, dissolving into cooler blues and greys above—a sky alive with movement and atmosphere.

Beneath this radiant sky, the terrain is built from thick, impasto layers of white, grey, ochre, and earth tones, evoking the rugged textures of sand, rock, and tidal remnants. Hanna’s brushwork is instinctive and sculptural, creating a surface that feels shaped by wind, weather, and the physical act of painting. Darker strokes and flashes of colour in the lower section introduce depth and contrast, suggesting the complexity of the shoreline without resorting to literal detail.

Hanna’s approach resonates strongly with the Scottish Expressionist tradition, echoing the emotional force of Joan Eardley and the atmospheric drama associated with the Glasgow School. Yet his voice remains unmistakably his own—raw, lyrical, and deeply rooted in the landscapes of the east coast. His paintings are not topographical records but sensory responses, shaped by memory, weather, and the elemental power of place.

The result is a landscape that feels both expansive and intimate. Hanna invites the viewer to stand on the sand outside St Andrews, witnessing a moment of shifting light that captures the essence of contemporary Scottish art at its most expressive and atmospheric.

Available from Red Rag Gallery - specialists in present day Scottish Art