John Bell was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1968 . His early days were spent growing up in Fife where he painted from a young age but chose to pursue a career in Architecture. John graduated from The Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow in 1993. Since then he has worked as an architect but has continued to paint and exhibit art work having undergone further study at Glasgow School of Art.

John Bell paints mainly landscapes and seascapes of Scotland, particularly along the Ayrshire coast. He is fascinated in the influence of the sky, using bold brushwork to express its changing mood and atmosphere. His paintings capture the extremes of light and colour in the Scottish landscape, from intimate woodland scenes to expansive shorelines. Whether John Bell is painting an intimate woodland scene or an expansive shoreline, his carefully composed oil paintings are always carefully crafted and communicate a strong atmospheric feel to each subject.

John Bell has developed a very distinctive, light style with an appealing colour palette successfully reflecting the coolness of the Scottish light. He is interested in the influence of the constantly changing weather, which can transform the mood in a moment. The sky often dominates his paintings and he uses bold brushwork to express the form and movement of cloud.

John Bell paintings are exhibited at a growing number of Scottish art galleries including Paisley Art Institute. His art work has also featured at a number of Art Fairs. John Bell has been represented by Red Rag Gallery since 2011.

George Birrell was born in 1950. He trained at the Glasgow School of Art (1967 - 1971) and was involved with the Hospitalfield Summer School in 1970. He had an impressive line up of high pedigree tutors including Leon Morrocco, Goudie, Robertson, Donaldson, Fergusson and William Crosbie.After leaving art school George taught art and design in Scottish schools for the next decade, starting painting full time in 1990's.

Birrell lectured in art, design and photography from 1985 - 1998. Since then George has taken part in regular joint and group art exhibitions at many Scottish galleries particularly: Edinburgh Art Galleries, Glasgow Art Galleries, and Fife Art Galleries . He has also exhibited his art abroad.

George Birrell produces Architectural paintings and Landscape paintings of his native Scotland. The East Coast Scottish towns and fishing villages of Fife hold a special fascination. One is immediately struck by the bold use of strong colour and stylised compositions. He describes this as an emotional response to memories and atmosphere of these special places on the Scottish east coast . Vigorous handling of colour, a bold palette and strong design are all hallmarks of his painting.

Speaking about his paintings Birrell says: 'I paint neither on the spot nor from photographs, but improvise the remembered essentials of a place, in the comfort of my art studio. Harbours and their bric-a-brac attract me, as do mills and castles. Texture, colour and pattern are what I use to evoke feel-good locations.'

An example of George Birrell's art work is the oil painting 'Church Tower, Fife'. This is a typical of Birrell painting, with a clear and well constructed composition clearly illustrating George's bold and effective use of colour to create an emotional impact. The contrasting colours, which create areas of light and shade, draw us into the small Scottish village. There is a great sense of peace and serenity in the work. A moment of stillness and clarity before the evening light fades.

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“With a particular fondness for the realism and naturalism art movements of the 19th century, it’s easy to see how self-taught Scottish artist Dale Bissland has been inspired by and allowed the stylisation of these movements to seep into his work. Whilst it’s undoubtful that the technical accuracy of his painting has been born from a foundation of traditional method and careful study/practice of these techniques, it is the atmospheric and evocation of his artworks which really sings to his praise and rarity as an artist.

Perhaps it is Dale Bissland’s lack of formal training which allows him to paint with such freedom and affecting discernment or perhaps it is his choice of subjects, which are invariably places of familiarity and fondness. Regardless of the how, Dale Bissland successfully and continually conveys a sensitivity and intelligence which arouses the viewer to emotionally connect with the landscapes he paints through the depiction of light and stillness. Astutely capturing the beauty of his surroundings Dale Bissland is to be applauded for his unique and breathtaking view on contemporary realism.”

Garry Brander began his studies in 2005 obtaining his HND in graphic design in 2007, winning several awards including the Trade House of Scotland ‘Best 2D Painting’. He began exhibiting his artwork in and around the west coast of Scotland and shortly after made the decision to attend the Glasgow School of Art. Graduating in 2011 with a BA Honours in Fine Art, he enjoyed a sell-out degree show.

Garry spends much of his time painting the highlands and islands of Scotland, particularly the island of Tiree, where his family has lived and worked the old watermill and surrounding crofts for over 500 years. His love of the West Coast has inspired his paintings and living on the islands, learning about remoteness, isolation and the beauty of the beaches and landscapes, has forged the artist he has become. His upbeat and vibrant modern palette raises the viewer’s level of emotional engagement with his paintings and reminds them that Scotland is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Garry Brander’s contemporary artwork is in private collections all over the world and has been exhibited in Art Fairs from New York to London and Amsterdam. He also exhibits with many of Scotland’s best-known galleries and has had many successful solo exhibitions.

Judith Bridgland was born in 1962 in Australia, and trained in Glasgow, Scotland where she now lives and works. She graduated from Glasgow University in 1984 with a Masters degree with Honours in Fine Art.

Judith creates paintings very much in the Scottish colourist tradition. Her art works are bold, exuberant and vibrantly joyful landscapes

Working in oils, her paintings use bold, vigorous, rhythmical strokes of impasto paint combined with delicate brushwork. This gives an exciting texture to the paint surface along with a sense of abstraction, which reflects nature’s contrasts and delicate harmonies. However, whilst the work is very painterly, it also has a strong sense of place.

Talking about her paintings Judith says: 'My work combines a love of almost sculptural texture, and contrasts between elements such as the abstract and the figurative, organic and geometric, thick and thin paint. Landscape is not just about the land; it is about the experience of a very particular moment, and the scenes I paint are all very precise, particular places, ones which I often return to again and again. As such, they are records of a particular moment which is now gone, but they also of speak of a cumulative experience. So as well as being an actual place, the landscape is also an expression of me, a form of self-portrait of an emotional landscape.'

Winner of the 1999 MacRoberts Open Prize, the 2009 House for An Art Lover Award, and the Glasgow Art Club Award in 2016, Judith is also a member of the Paisley Art Institute, and a regular exhibitor at the Royal Glasgow Institute and Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour. She has had sell-out shows in Scotland, London and the rest of the UK as well as exhibiting further afield in America, Russia and Sweden. Today Judith’s work can be found in the collections of The Royal Bank of Scotland, British Midland, The University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian University, and privately worldwide.

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

Davy Brown was born in Kilmarnock in 1950. As a young Scottish artist Davy studied contemporary art at the Glasgow School of Art under David Donaldson and Duncan Shanks. He then went onto complete teacher training at Moray House Edinburgh.

In 1975 Davy Brown won a modern art scholarship from the Institute of Cultural Affairs in Chicago. This enabled Davy to travel extensively in the USA and Canada. He was also able to further develop his skills as a talented contemporary Scottish artist.

When Davy Brown returned from his travels he successfully taught contemporary art in Scottish schools. Throughout this time Davy Brown continued to paint and exhibit his paintings along with other leading Scottish artists in both Scottish art galleries and modern British art galleries further afield.

Davy Brown eventually left teaching in 2002 to concentrate full time as a professional Scottish contemporary artist. Over the years Davy Brown paintings, with their very distinctive style of modern Scottish art, have consistently grown in popularity. For much of this time Davy Brown paintings have been inspired by his love of the Scottish Landscapes but recently this much acclaimed Scottish artist has started to produce equally compelling paintings of France and Spain.

For Davy, early and enduring influence has come from the two great Scottish artists, Robert Colquhoun and Robert MacBryde. His passion for their work has fuelled his own painting career and echoes of their work can be seen in his still life and landscape pieces. He also credits Cezanne, Picasso, The Scottish Colourists, The Modern St. Ives School and Scottish artist and former tutor James Robertson

Frequent trips to Cornwall Art Galleries have also nurtured an interest in the paintings of the modern British St. Ives abstractionists such as Terry Frost, John Wells and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham. To Davy Brown, Cornwall and Galloway have much in common - the scenic landscape and ever changing light. Following a health scare in 2013, a slight change can be seen in Davy's work. It is still strong in the use of colour with a familiar texture but a subtle change in his palette has introduced a fresh, airy quality to his art work

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Stuart Buchanan was born in Glasgow in 1970. He studied Fine Art Drawing and Painting at the Glasgow School of Art and graduated in 1992. He has been working as a professional artist after setting up his art studio in 1993. Since then Stuart Buchanan has firmly established himself as a leading name within the Contemporary Scottish field.

Stuart Buchanan generally works in the traditional medium of oils. His paintings are representational, with figures set in richly textured, colourful ambiguous landscapes. His work depicts images of figures, usually imagined and anonymous, in painterly landscapes. He seeks to invoke a positive response in the viewer, be it a smile or the triggering of a personal memory, via strangely familiar scenes, reminiscent almost of snapshots or memories in a personal history.

Stuart Buchanan's paintings are easily identifiable. His art work display a recurring theme of solitude. This is not to suggest his paintings are lonely but rather a celebration of peace and serenity. Buchanan creates a world of peace and refuge away from the day to day of the outside world. His paintings depict mostly single figures and pairs and all share an enviable meditative state. The figures are often involved in an activity beyond the canvas and the viewer - such as gazing out to sea or at the stars, or daydreaming. He draws inspiration from his own childhood memories and experiences, as well as more current day to day life and the environment and landscapes that surround him.

In addition to Red Rag Art Gallery Stuart Buchanan has exhibited at other leading British Art Galleries. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Stuart Buchanan artist studio and like all Red Rag British art and contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

Jane Cruickshank was born in 1976. She studied Fine Art at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, Scotland, completing her Master of Arts degree in 1999.

She is a talented young Scottish artist and has won numerous awards and scholarships. These include: Cooper and Lybrand Competition 1996; John Kinross Scholarship to Florence in 1997; and the James Torrence Memorial Award from the Royal Glasgow Institute in 1998. Using recognisable subject matter Cruickshank employs an intense realism in her paintings. Subjects have a luminescence and clarity that makes them appear as if they could move off the canvas. Her work is immediately accessible.

Jane Cruickshank's early work concentrated on figures. She says: 'I started painting the figure while at Art College, mainly self-portraits or members of the family usually on large canvases with the figure placed off centre to create an image of vulnerability. Pattern and surface is a tool that I use to explore how the dominance of appearance manipulates the identity.' Latterly Jane has also produced still life pieces to great effect and now has a growing reputation for her luminous fine art still life paintings. Her paintings have all the quality and depth associated with her principal medium of oils, successfully combining intense realism with a luminescence and clarity that give them a very contemporary feel. Jane creates perfect balance between the objects and space in her paintings - it appears as if the subject could move off the canvas.

Jane Cruickshank produces fine still life art work with delicately defined paintings. She is fascinated by the everyday objects particularly of times past - candle stuffers, earthware bottles and antique books are common themes in her work. She equally adept at capturing the subtle qualities of ceramic or metallic objects as the light and refection plays across and upon each surface. She has the capacity to get the viewer to see the beauty of the ordinary and to produce art works which are little gems. Her work has the appeal of the old masters but are very much in the contemporary style.

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

Stephanie Dees was born in Northumberland in 1974. Her formal art training took place at Edinburgh College of Art between 1992 and 1998 where Stephanie obtained BA (Hons) in Drawing and Painting and MFA in Painting.

Stephanie paints using several media. This includes: mixed media, acrylic, watercolour, pencil, oil bar and oil pastel. Her paintings are based on the architecture and landscape of a variety of places including Edinburgh, Italy, Cornwall and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Stephanie's paintings evoke atmosphere and fond memories. She enjoys portraying the numerous affects light and different seasons have on the landscape both urban and rural. Her paintings of Edinburgh, Devon and Cornish vistas are the result of keen observation and skillful draftsmanship . Capturing the pale light and uncluttered charm of her subject Stephanie's paintings communicate a subtle quietness. Although people are not featured in her paintings there is a sense that they are never far away.

In 2002 Stephanie Dees won the 'Alexander Graham Munro Travel Award RSW', which is presented annually by the Society for the best painting by an artist under 30 years of age. She has won many other art prizes, including the Andrew Grant Bequest Prize for Drawing ECA in 1997, and the Scottish Education Trust Award in 1998.

In addition to Red Rag art gallery Stephanie Dees art work has been exhibited at other leading British Art Galleries. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Stephanie Dees artist studio and like all Red Rag Scottish contemporary art work can be shipped worldwide.

Marion Drummond was born in Glasgow in 1958. She is mostly a self-taught artist, although she has benefited greatly from attending life classes under Christine Ironside, Drummond Mayo and Ann Johnston. Marion says her influences in painting are varied from Rubens to Jenny Saville. Above all she is very much inspired by all great drawing and painting.

Marion Drummond is now a well established Scottish artist who has developed a style all of her own. Marion's art work is immediately recognisable and she is an artist with natural talent who produces paintings of high consistent quality. Marion's paintings are oils, often created by using her fingers rather than brushes or palette knife.

Marion Drummond strives to capture the immediacy and vibrancy of the scene before her, whether that be a still life, a portrait or a landscape. Such is the connection with the subject of her work that she will often mix the paint directly on the canvas with her fingers; in this process, there is a literal transfer of human warmth and energy to the painted surface. Marion describes her paintings as dynamically capturing ‘the moment’ and portraying it with a passionate energy. She has a particular love of the Blane valley countryside with its diversity of wildlife, rivers, moorland and hills. Daily walks provide Marion with colour notes for paintings and the sheer enjoyment of seeing the constant changing of light and season of the Scottish countryside. She successfully combines a love of hill-walking with painting al fresco to capture life with a sense of urgency and immediacy.

In addition to Red Rag Gallery Marion Drummond has exhibited her paintings widely in recent years. A number of commercial art galleries have exhibited her art works and she has also exhibited in the Royal Glasgow Institute (RGI) and the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh (RSA). Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Marion Drummond artist studio and like all Red Rag Scottish art it can be shipped worldwide.

Born in York, Jean now lives in the heart of highland Perthshire. She has Scottish roots through her father’s family and went back to live north of the border over 20 years ago. However, it was her first visit to Ardnamurchan and the West Coast in 1990 that provided her with her greatest artistic inspiration where she fell in love with the landscape, light and colour she found there. These elements have been the centre of her creative output ever since.

Jean’s love of art stems from her childhood, but it wasn’t until much later when she undertook intensive fine art training and simultaneously, she began to develop her own style. Her subjects focus on the raw beauty of some of the remotest areas in Scotland and beyond and she is well-known in the art world for her energetic and sculptural use of paint. It has often been remarked that her work displays a keen eye for detail alongside sheer joy of application. Jean has worked in a variety of media and her trademark is strong, bold colours combined with energy, light and atmosphere. Her main influences are the Scottish colourists and some of the German expressionists. Van Gogh is also a dominant influence because of his love of yellow and use of thickly applied and textured paint.

Jean’s work is popular both here and abroad, represented in many private and corporate collections. In addition to Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery. Jean Feeney’s work has been exhibited at other leading galleries. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from Jean’s studio and, like all Red Rag Scottish Art and Contemporary Art, it can be shipped worldwide.

Denise Findlay was born in 1973 into a family with a strong artistic pedigree. Her mother was the Great Granddaughter of Fra Newbery (1855 - 1946), who was married to the equally famous Glasgow Girl, Jessie Newbery (1864 - 1948), whose applique work gave rise to the rose motif identified with Charles Rennie Macintosh. Fra Newbery was the Director of the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) between 1885 and 1917. Under Newbury's leadership the school developed an international reputation and he was instrumental in fostering the Glasgow Boys and the work of Charles Rennie Macintosh and his circle.

As a young girl, Denise Findlay was always passionate about art and not much else. She was encouraged by her parents, a teacher at school and her attendance at Saturday morning classes at the Glasgow School of Art. She went on to study at Glasgow School where she graduated in 1996. Findlay entered Glasgow art school with strong figurative drawing skills and was keen to learn how to paint. She studied under the tutelage of Jimmy Robertson CBE RSW RGI RSA PAI and Barbara Rae RA. Rae, in particular singled out and admired Denise's incredible ability to handle light. During her development, Findlay embraced figurative realism and in particular the American realist Andrew Wyeth and the Chilean hyper-realist Claudio Bravo.

Denise's paintings were initially very detailed. Her more recent work has become much lighter and looser. Denise puts this down to changes in her personal circumstances. Talking about her work she says: ‘The female figure tends to be dominant in my work - most of the time she must be representing me. Things have been changing in my own life and it is definitely to do with that, which I suppose is good because it means my work is true to me - maybe I'm taking control back.' Denise also notes that she paints woman because she can relate to them and can understand their point of view.

Denise Findlay works with a contemporary colour palette with stunning, almost abstract markings. Her work is pleasing and powerful and cleverly narrates and intones the female perspective. Her work also implies that her characters, while beautiful and vulnerable are also very determined and can be strong and single-minded when they choose to be.

Denise Findlay has received many art awards including the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award which she has won three times. She has also won Arnold Clark Award, awarded by The Paisley Art Institute and was runner up to the Aspect Prize also awarded by The Paisley Art Institute.

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

Although Stuart Luke Gatherer was born and educated in Scotland, his work is internationally claimed, with hugely successful shows from London to New York. It is perhaps his ability to marry the pure enviable skill of classical figurative painting with contemporary imagery and scenes, that is the cause of his ever-growing popularity with collectors.

Similarly to Caravaggio and other artists typical of the Baroque period, Gatherer uses lighting and shadows to enhance the drama of the action occurring in his paintings, captivating the imagination of his views readily.

Gatherer’s talent to capture the essence of humanity time and time again is rooted in the artist tradition of human observation, in both figure and psychology. As the observer is dropped into the setting right at the point activity, the reaction is to write your own narrative. The mystery of the painters account is enhanced by the background being thrown into shadow.

It’s clear to see from Gatherer’s artistry, his obsession with the act of painting itself, but it is the story that seizes the eye of the onlooker.

Joan Gillespie was born in Dundee in 1954. She studied painting at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art Dundee and completed a Diploma course at Edinburgh College of Art. Her artistic training at college benefited from studying under Alberto Morrocco and also with Sir Robin Philippson

Joan had an affinity for the art works of some of the Impressionists, the Nabis, the Newlyn School, the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists. Other influences have been modern masters of Fauvism - Derain, Matisse and Cezanne. Composition, paint quality and colour distribution in painting have always been very important to her.

The diversity of Joan Gillespie’s work is quite extraordinary. It ranges from enchanting collection of Portraits, Figurative works, Landscapes and Still Life. Her fresh-faced portraits definine the essence of feminine grace and beauty. She captures the cool, calm poses of young women through the simplicity of quick, broad brushstrokes with just a couple of lines.

Joan has a bold, vibrant approach to the use of colour, both in palette choice and wild, carefree application. Despite the vibrancy of tone and texture, her art works are both evocative and quiet in their composition and execution.

Since 2021 Joan Gillespie has been exclusively represented by Red Rag Gallery. Her works are in numerous collections throughout the UK and private art collections in Spain, Australia and USA.

Nael Hanna was born in 1959 in Neneveh, Northern Iraq and is of mixed culture - Greek and Christian Orthodox. From an early age Nael showed interest in art spending much of his childhood studying and drawing animals, birds and people. At the age of nineteen, Hanna entered college before being drafted into the Army to serve during the Iraq-Iran War. Whilst in military service, Nael continued to paint and was awarded a scholarship by the Ministry of Education, Baghdad. As a result he studied art in Britain.

Starting in 1983, Nael undertook art and language courses in Southampton before being awarded a scholarship to study Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee. In 1987, he won a further scholarship to study at Hospitalfield Summer School, Arbroath, and it was during this time that he developed his great passion for the East coast of Scotland particularly the Angus and Kincardinshire coastline, with its dramatic scenery and ever changing weather.

Upon graduating with First Class Honours in 1989, Nael travelled to Florence to study, after being awarded The Royal Scottish Academy John Kinross Scholarship. He later returned to the rural Angus countryside where he made his home. After qualifying MPhil in Art at Dundee Hanna became a lecturer in the Fine Art Department of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and then became Artist in Residence at Anton House day centre in Broughty Ferry - a charity providing care services to adults with physical disabilities.

Today, Nael devotes his time fully to painting and continues to be inspired by his deep love of nature, and his fascination with the elements so dramatically displayed within the Scottish landscape and its coastlines. His paintings often transcend the immediate depiction of the landscape and embrace the human relationship with the land. From the people living in these areas- the fisherfolk and their relationship with the sea, and the farmers working the land, Nael Hanna is driven to capture the rhythms, atmosphere and textures so unique to this part of the world.

Talking about his paintings Nael says: “I am inspired by water, sound and nature, being fascinated by the changing colours and shapes reflected in the sea, land and sky. I enjoy looking for the rhythms created in nature and hope to capture the force of the natural elements which dictate so much to the world that we live in. I spend a great deal of time observing the coastal landscape near my Angus home, and however much at times I feel that I should escape from this recurring subject, I am always willingly drawn back by its sheer beauty and magnetism”.

Nael Hanna is the recipient of many art prizes and awards. Over the years his paintings have been exhibited regularly at the RGI, RSA, SSA and SAAC and he has had numerous solo shows. His paintings are instantly recognisable and distinctive with rich texture and a unique colour palate. He paints with vigour and there is an immediacy in his paintings which is extremely stimulating to the viewer, whether it is a Scottish coastal scene or a vibrant still life.

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

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 has exhibited his contemporary paintings regularly 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

He is a founder member of Group 81 Artists who regularly exhibited at McLellan Galleries, Glasgow. In 1981 Joe 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 he 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 of the renowned character 'Sniffy' have featured in many of Hargan's paintings and are now collected by art lovers worldwide. Over the years Joe 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.

Jennifer Irvine was born in Glasgow in 1956. She studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1974 until 1978.

Jennifer's early career was spent teaching art in various Glasgow schools. Throughout this period she continued painting and exhibiting before becoming a full time professional artist in 1990.

Jennifer works from her art studio in Glasgow and can also be found painting in Argyll. More recently she has also spent a lot of time in France, Spain and Italy where she has found much of her subject matter.

Inspiration for her paintings is broadly based ranging from still life to seascape and townscape. There is always a strong emphasis on light, shade and pattern in Jennifer's paintings. This is particularly evident in her oil paintings of French villages and Italian townscapes. She draws on the effects of sunlight on an object, be it on a building, water or a still life subject. Her still life paintings are often flowers, fruit and drapery, portrayed in rich vivid colour with a profusion of pattern.

In addition to Red Rag art gallery Jennifer Irvine art work has been exhibited widely throughout Scotland and at other British Art Galleries. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Jennifer Irvine artist studio and like all Red Rag Scottish art and Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

Charles Jamieson (b.1952) is a Scottish Artist known for his distinctive and intelligent use of colour, coupled with light and shade.

Charles Jamieson studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1969-74, followed by further studies at the Texas Christian University at Fort Worth, Texas where he gained his MFA (Master of Fine Arts).

He is recipient of numerous art awards such as the William Bowie Award in 1999, and the Richmond Hill Gallery Award in 2004 and 2007. He was nominated by The Herald as ‘one of 50 Scottish Artists to invest in’, as well as being a past Chairman of the Aspect Prize and also a past President of the Paisley Art Institute.

Charles Jamieson’s paintings are diverse in subject matter and he is equally comfortable painting still life, landscape, marine, or architectural subjects. He travels widely, capturing the essence of his locations in his pared back landscapes. His work is being increasingly sought after with his paintings being held in collections across the globe, including the Clydebank Museum, Ernst and Young, Prudential, Caledonian Breweries, and the private collections of Harry Enfield and John Le Carre, and the Kuwaiti Royal Family.

In addition to Red Rag Art Gallery Charles Jamieson has exhibited at a number of other English and Scottish art. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Charles Jamieson artist studio and like all Red Rag Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

Robert Kelsey was born in Glasgow in 1949. He attended the Glasgow School of Art studying under leading artists David Donaldson, John Cunningham, Alexander Goudie, James Robertson and Duncan Shanks. Years later Robert Kelsey's paintings still reflect the powerful influence of his art tutors. Other influences on Kelsey's paintings are The Scottish Colourists, Peploe and Cadell and Robert also admires the art work of the English artists Edward Seago and Ken Howard.

After graduating, like many Scottish artists, Robert Kelsey embarked on a career in Art Education. As an art teacher in a sympathetic school environment Kelsey was encouraged to concentrate on his own art projects alongside classroom work. By the time Bob was appointed Principal Teacher in the '80s he had established his own art studio and was able to continue to painting there.

In 1995 Robert Kelsey decided to leave art teaching for a full-time career as an artist. Success soon followed and Kelsey has enjoyed many successful art exhibitions in Britain, Europe and the United States. Robert's contemporary paintings can also be found in several corporate art collections. In 1998 he was awarded a diploma from Paisley Art Institute.

Despite being an enthusiastic traveller, Robert Kelsey has always loved returning to his Scottish roots and the inspiration found in the beauty of the Scottish coastline. He has established a creative reputation from his faithful depictions of the coastal landscapes of Western Scotland and its adjacent islands. Kelsey's' distinctive oils on canvas paintings convey the vast flat beaches, sparkling emerald water and majestic skies in a glowing array of blues, golds and greens.

Speaking about his paintings Robert Kelsey says: 'Much of my inspiration comes from the land and seascapes to be found on the West coast of Scotland, near Arisaig, and in particular, the coasts around the islands of the Inner and Outer Hebrides. My Grandparents were school teachers on Barra at the turn of the last century and my father was born on the Island in 1906. When I visited the island myself some years ago I enjoyed the experience of arriving in a tiny plane, and landing on the cockle strand airstrip with salt spray splashing the windows. Seconds later, walking on the sand, I was overcome by the beauty of my surroundings. A vast flat beach, sparkling emerald water, and a huge sky'.

Robert Kelsey is now firmly recognised as one of Scotland's leading contemporary artists. He is known for his lively and fluent style of painting and his undoubted artistic skill in capturing light and colour, to which he brings an unparalleled accuracy. True to the captivating qualities and philosophy of the Scottish Colourists, Robert Kelsey paints with vigour and feeling to interpret a sense of place through the power of light and colour.Talking about his paintings he says: 'Light is generally the most important quality. For me, the main interest and challenge of painting lies in capturing the particular translucency and clarity of light in different parts of the world'

Over the past decade or so, Robert has established an enviable following and reputation for his sensitive and atmospheric oil paintings, and especially for his beach subjects. Kelsey often focuses on the wide, lonely beach landscapes of the Western Isles. Alongside Scottish paintings Kelsey also produces wonderful landscape paintings of Italy, Suffolk, Cornwall and Spain as well as richly coloured still life paintings. The intensity of colour in these continental works and still lifes complement the more subtle tones of the Scottish beaches.

Robert Kesley has painted beaches and seascapes for more than 30 years. Gradually his paintings featured more welcoming, warm and sunny beaches, which he often paints in tropical and Mediterranean locations. 'It's that sort of atmosphere that I am after, preferably with crystal clear turquoise water and stretches of soft sand. I like quiet, remote places, such as in the Hebrides and along the west coast of Scotland.

In addition to Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery Robert Kelsey art work has been exhibited at other leading Scottish Art Galleries. His paintings have also been in exhibitions in London and Internationally. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Robert Kelsey artist studio and like all Red Rag Scottish art and Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

John Kingsley RSW PAI (b.1956) is a Scottish artist born in Glasgow. Working in both representational and more abstract formats, the landscapes of Scotland and Provence in particular have been long-standing sources of inspiration for him.

He studied drawing and painting at Glasgow School of Art from 1973-77 under the tutorship of Geoffrey Squire, and other prominent Scottish artists such as James D. Robertson and David Donaldson.

Continuing his work in Scottish art, in 1979 John Kingsley was elected an artist member of the Glasgow Art Club. From 1980-86 he exhibited solo shows at the annual S.N.O. promenade concerts at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow and in 1986 he was elected a member of Group 81 Artists, who exhibited regularly at the McLellan Galleries, Glasgow.

A finalist in the Hunting Art prizes competition in London in 1989, 1993, and 1998, and highly commended in the same competition in 1996, John Kingsley has firmly established his reputation as a leading Scottish contemporary artist. He won the William Bowie Landscape Prize in 1991 and the Mary Armour Award at the Paisley Art Institute in 1992. Other awards include the Paisley Art Institute prize in 2003, the Reid Kerr College Award for painting in 2006, the Watermark Award in 2013, and the May Marshall Brown Award in 2017 (both at the RSW). John Kingsley also served as a member of the council of the Paisley Art Institute for fifteen years and was recently made an RSW after being elected a member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour.

Today, John Kingsley lives and works in Glasgow, and has an international reputation with art works in many private and public collections across Europe, Australia, Canada, and the USA. His paintings can be found in the art collections of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, the Argyle and Bute District Council, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow.

In addition to Red Rag Art Gallery John Kingsley has exhibited at a number of other Scottish Art Galleries including the Royal Glasgow Institute, Royal Scottish Academy, and the Paisley Institute. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the John Kingsley artist studio and like all Red Rag Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

Simon Laurie was born in Glasgow in 1964, studying at the Glasgow School of Fine Art between 1982 and 1987.

Simon Laurie has developed a very individual abstract style; his paintings are typically inspired by everyday objects, fish, boats and religious symbols as well as Scottish life and society. Simon's artwork has been said to combine the purity and formalism of the St Ives School with the rich tradition of the Scottish colourists. His paintings are full of colour and enduring interest, displaying an elegant sense of space and perspective.

Using bold and vibrant colours Simon Laurie creates paintings which have a resonance with collage artworks. Each painting is created using bright acrylics in a simple form with perfect balance and deeply satisfying compositions. This distinctive style has earned Simon many prestigious art awards from the Scottish societies including: 'Teachers' Whisky Travel Award, RGI; the Alexander Graham Munro Award, RSW; and the John Cunningham Award at RGI Annual Exhibition. His artwork is also held by well-known collections including the Contemporary Arts Society, London and the Aberdeen Art Gallery.

In 1991 Simon Laurie was elected a Member of the Royal Scottish Watercolourists (RSW) and a member of the Royal Glasgow Institute (RGI) in 2000.

In addition to Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery Simon Laurie’s artwork has been exhibited at other leading Scottish Art Galleries. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Simon Laurie artist studio and like all Red Rag Scottish art and Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

Selling a Hamish MacDonald oil or watercolour painting? We are looking to buy Original paintings by Hamish MacDonald. Simply contact the gallery on 01451 832563

Hamish MacDonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1935 and died in 2008. He trained at the famous Glasgow School of Art from 1963 to 1967.

Hamish developed a successful career in Education teaching Art in Scottish schools.From 1968 MacDonald successfully combined painting with teaching and also guest lectured throughout Scotland. In 1991 he retired from his post as an Art Department Principal to concentrate fully on the development of his painting.

Influences on Hamish's work were diverse. They included the Impressionists and the Scottish Colourists and especially the art works of William Gillies and Joan Eardley. Hamish MacDonald paintings were mostly painted in oils and mixed media. His broad, fluid style and bold palette are in keeping with the Scottish Colourist tradition whilst his ability to capture the atmosphere and vitality of his subject is enhanced by a confident and mature style. His very individual approach to contemporary painting created an immediacy and spontaneity to his art. Hamish is now widely regarded as one of Scotland's most successful contemporary artists.

Historically inspiration for Hamish MacDonald paintings came from his roots - Scottish Landscapes and Scottish Marine scenes. Later in life MacDonald extended his interest producing contemporary paintings of Venice, Cornish scenes and still life.

Contemporary paintings and prints by Hamish MacDonald are becoming increasingly collectable and have proved a good Art Investment. Numerous public and private art collections have bought paintings by MacDonald including: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh; Kelvingrove one of Edinburgh Art Galleries; Paisley Art Gallery; and the Scottish First Minister.

Jock MacInnes was born in 1943. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art where he graduated in 1966.

Like many Artists Jock MacInnes spent his early career teaching Art - in his case at the Glasgow School of Art. Throughout his time teaching Jock continued with his own painting regularly exhibiting and winning art Awards and Scholarships. These included: the Paisley Art Institute, Drawing competition; the Cargill Award, Royal Glasgow Institute; and the Colquhoun Memorial Painting Competition.

Demand for Jock MacInnes paintings increased to such an extent that he left Glasgow Art School to concentrate on full time painting in 1999. Prior to this MacInnes had been elected as a member of the prestigious RGI in 1988 and joined the Council of the RGI in 1995.

Although Jock MacInnes paintings are influenced by the Scottish Colourist artists, he describes himself as a 'Modernist' at heart. And so he draws upon inspiration from English artists such as Nicholson, Scott and Wallis together with European artists Matisse, Braque and Morandi.

MacInnes has a recurring fascination with marine painting. But he also produces stunning landscape and still life paintings, which have the same simplicity. Above all MacInnes paintings have a quietness to them. Unusually he prepares all his own painting grounds, a type of gesso on board.Then with great skill MacInnes not only draws and paints on to the surface, he also abrades and scrapes into the canvas. In doing so MacInnes creates a strong feeling of atmosphere and mood.

Collectors of Jock MacInnes paintings include: The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock; Paisley Art Institute; Nationwide Building Society; Royal Bank of Scotland; and Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities.

TO SEE JOCK MacINNES LIMITED EDITION PRINTS CLICK HERE

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

Donald MacLean (b.1962) is a Scottish artist producing still life and landscape paintings. Brought up in Paisley, Scotland, Donald studied Fine Art (sculpture) at Glasgow School of Art from 1980-85. Much of his student work explored organic forms and textures through clay and wax modelling, and bronze casting.

After graduating, Donald pursued a life-long interest in the theatre. Starting with community and educational theatre around central Scotland, he then moved to Cardiff to take up Postgraduate studies in theatre design and production at University College Cardiff, returning to Scotland in 1989. Donald started to pursue a freelance career in theatre design and scenic art with many Scottish theatre companies, including: The Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, The Citizens Theatre and the Tron Theatre, Glasgow and Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet as well as production and event management such as the millennium and tercentenary events for the town of Campbeltown, Argyll. He also taught on the technical theatre course at Coatbridge College.

Donald continued to work in theatre into the early 2000s. Following a move from Glasgow to the west coast of Scotland he decided to pursue painting again. He began to exhibit at local galleries and The Paisley Art Institute. In addition to Red Rag Art Gallery, he has exhibited in galleries from Glasgow to Devon as well as art fairs in Edinburgh and Chelsea.

Donald was initially inspired by the Scottish landscape around his home, but he has since gradually developed an interest in the ‘design’ aspects of still life painting allowing him to examine themes of colour and composition. This has gradually developed into a stylistically more contemporary approach, which has led him to return to some of the themes of his college years sculptures – this time exploring organic plant forms in painting terms of colour and pattern. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Donald MacLean artist studio and like all Red Rag Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

Edinburgh born in 1964, Stephen Mangan graduated with a BA Honours degree from Duncan of Jordanstone Art College, Dundee, in 1988. Following his post graduate diploma in 1989, Stephen Mangan’s work has been acknowledged with many prestigious awards and scholarships over the years and has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the UK, USA, Hong Kong and Holland.

Mangan’s figurative work is particularly distinctive with an otherworldly feel. Favourite themes include racecourses, train stations, beaches, harbours, fairgrounds, cafes and theatres where the busy scenes are almost eerily calm with each figure engaged in their individual, quiet contemplation.

Stephen Mangan says, “I’m interested in the relationship between people and certain leisure environments; how they, or we, fit into the world. I seem to be drawn to people in group situations, yet I paint them as separate individuals who do not look as though they are with other people. It is an odd type of interaction”.

Mangan’s style is methodical with careful consideration given to composition. Razor-sharp lines - as seen in boats masts, racing posts, beach huts and horizons - create a pleasing geometry to guide the eye and provide balance to the roundness of the main figures - the boats, horses and people, for example.

Stephen Mangan’s use of chiaroscuro (light/shade) technique emphasises the atmospheric feeling in his work. “It’s a slow process where the paintings are carefully planned, built-up thinly and glazed often. I use light to create depth, shadows and contrast”. This technique echoes the geometric elements, light coming through a window, for example, or in shadows cast diagonally across a scene.

Mangan’s transcendent work is considered highly collectable and is held in many private and public collections globally including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In addition to Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery, Stephen Mangan’s artwork has been exhibited at other leading British Art Galleries. Each painting at Red Rag Gallery is sourced from Stephen Mangan’s artist’s studio and, like all Red Rag Scottish Art and Contemporary Art, can be shipped worldwide.

Jenny Matthews RSW was born in 1964 in Montreal, Canada. She studied Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 1986.

Having always been inspired by the nature surrounding her, most especially the native flora, Scottish watercolourist Jenny Matthews RSW is predominantly known for her celebrated paintings of flowers. Her passion and talent for capturing the subject matter stems from the very beginnings of her artistic journey and was notably nurtured and refined during her Botanical Illustration elective at Edinburgh College of Art.

In the same way that the natural subject surrounding Jenny Matthews RSW is central to her work so are the characteristics of her chosen medium, watercolour. The serendipitous variations that occur during the application of watercolour stimulates a more explorative and intuitive way of working, which Jenny Matthews RSW finds a source of constant inspiration. Playing with the balance of water to pigment ratio allows work to be both highly detailed or more abstract. These variations lend themselves to the natural and often minute variations within the forms of flowers and have inspired Jenny Matthews to create unique works within the paradigm of a fairly traditional subject matter.

Having recently been elected as a member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour, Jenny Matthews'  list of achievements don't show signs of slowing down anytime soon. This honour comes as a welcomed addition to the many accolades Jenny Matthews has received previously and puts her at the forefront of contemporary painters in watercolour.

Rory McLauchlan was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1960. Initially he studied graphics at Cardonald College, Glasgow from 1978-80. Following this Rory continued his studies at St Martin’s School of Art, London from 1982-85 where he gained a BA(Hons) in Fine Art.

While living in London Rory McLauchlan worked as a freelance textile designer for various design companies including Kim Clark Design. Since returning to Scotland he has concentrated on painting landscapes of Scotland and France.In doing so Rory captures the essence and character of a particular place through the spontaneous use of colour, line and shape.

Rory is very much a non literal painter and prefers to create pieces rather than slavishly imitating nature. McLauchlan works in a highly improvised way with colour, line and shape taking opportunites to capitalise on unpredictable accidents on the surface which will gel with other areas, and in time evolve into larger pleasing forms. During this process Rory is continually thinking on his feet which makes for a more intense working method.

In addition to Red Rag Gallery Rory McLauchlin has particapated in various art exhibitions across the UK including: the RGI, PAI and VAS and numerous commercial art galleries throughout the UK. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Rory McLauchlin artist studio and like all Red Rag Scottish contemporary art can be shipped worldw

To see more Rory McLAUCHLAN Scottish art click here

Scottish artist Alice McMurrough RSW RGI PAI expresses the childlike abundance of her imagination within the imagery of her paintings, using a sophistication and execution that's been honed over many years. With a duality of mind she’s able to tap into the untainted innocence of youth and paint scenes with an honesty and directness impervious to the scepticism and mundanity which comes with maturity, despite the years she’s spent refining and mastering her skill.

Intertwining memories, legends and myths with personal observations, ideas and dreams, Alice McMurrough RSW RGI PAI conjures a world within her work that feels both familiar and yet totally unique. The singularity of her work derives from her distortion of time, place and form, so whilst the imagery may be rooted in recognised characters and narratives, through manipulated scale and colour these representations take on different metaphoric and symbolic meaning, playing on the verge of unrecognisable yet maintaining that nostalgic thread.

As with almost all tales, the stories being shared ring with truths that have a relevance across generations. Alice McMurrough’s hope is that by reinterpreting the common themes which run through these narratives, ever interlinked with her own memories and experiences, she can resonate with multiple cultures and viewers and in some way engage with the contemporary concerns found in modern day reality.

Louis McNally was born in 1963 in Inverkip, Scotland. He attended Gray's School of Art between 1986 and 1990 graduating with a BA- Hons.

Louis McNally has a very distinctive and recognisable style of oil painting. He painstakingly develops his paintings over many weeks of using drawings, photos and memory. The result is often an emotive and atmospheric land or city scape with long, low horizons usually inspired by Edinburgh and the East Coast areas. These contemporary paintings have unique haunting qualities which are unusual for paintings of such undoubted fine detailing and observation.

With his landscape paintings Louis McNally takes a particular view and stylises it to meet his own impressions. Well known vistas are thus transformed into something which the art viewer beholds and warms to. In doing so he often creates paintings which can have the look of those painted by Victorian Artists but which are undoubtedly contemporary in presentation. McNally certainly produces paintings of contrast.

Buildings in Louis McNally paintings have a solidity and a three dimensional quality to them giving the impression of a living being. In all McNally's paintings light pays a fundamental role as does the consequential shadow.

Louis McNally paintings are being increasingly collected by art enthusiasts and are now found in many private and public art collections including; Standard Life, Homes and Gardens Magazines and Institute of American Museums Washington.

Louis McNally Paintings alert - for new paintings by Louis McNally from Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery click below

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

Ian McWhinnie was born in 1952 in Glasgow.

As a young artist Ian studied Drawing and Painting at the Glasgow School of Art between 1970-1974. After studying painting at art school McWhinnie became an art teacher specialising in ceramics. With demand for his work increasing Ian set up his own art studio workshop in 2002 producing hand-painted and wheel thrown ceramic pieces.

McWhinnie created very striking and distinctive designs which worked equally well as ceramics or paintings. Eventually demand for paintings was so strong that he decided to focus all his energy on the brush.

Ian McWhinnie has now developed a very personal and recognizable painting style. His subject matter is diverse. Recent paintings have featured the sea, childhood memories, Italy, musicians, dancers and the circus which is a recurring theme. McWhinnie paintings depict Figures of strong character closely assembled and cropped tightly within each painting

Ian McWhinnie contemporary paintings are oil on gesso board. And his paintings typically display the fine detailing so necessary in ceramic art.

McWhinnie has been exhibiting and selling his contemporary paintings for a relatively short period of time. But he has already built up a strong Scottish following where his paintings are eagerly sought after and have received very favourable acclaim. In 2006 McWhinnie was a prize winner at Paisley Art Institute Open Exhibition.

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

Catriona Millar was born in Milngavie, Glasgow in 1956. She studied at Grays School of Art, Aberdeen graduating in 2005.

In a very short timescale Catriona Millar has established herself as one of Scotland's most collectable artists. She produces bold, colourful art works. Often these are inspired by her own life experience combined with creative flair. The results are unique and highly recognisable figurative paintings which captivate and delight the many art collectors of her work.

Catriona Millar paints in the rural isolation of the Scottish countryside. Surrounding her are portraits of relatives, teachers and neighbours - who are often the inspiration of her paintings. Catriona Millar does not use a paintbrush. She prefers to use a palette knife, which enables her to apply paint thickly, producing the textured effect that has become her trademark. Viewing Catriona Millar's paintings it is tempting to reach out and touch the canvas and the tactile looking surface. This painting technique and the subtle nuances of narrative that she achieves using this method is what sets Catriona's figurative work apart.

The subject of Catriona Milllar's paintings is almost exclusively people. Her fascination with faces and the sensuality of flesh dictate her muse, while her intensely layered application creates a story that unfolds with each stroke. It is perhaps this strong connection with her subject matter that art collectors have been drawn to providing Catriona with incredible and unexpected sucess.

Talking about her sucess Catriona Millar says: " Had I gone to art school in my 20s I might not have enjoyed the same success. I won a scholarship in the early 1970s in Harrogate but then moved back to Aberdeen so I didn't complete it ". She continued to paint but, with two children to raise, family responsibilities took priority and art had to take a back seat. It wasn't until the late 1990s when, dropping her now grown-up son off at Gray's School of Art where he was a life model, that Catriona became intrigued by the art studio where first-year students were busily working away. That glimpse of budding young artists learning their craft spurred Catriona to apply, and by the time she was hanging her degree show in 2005 word had spread about her paintings - and even the lecturers were queuing up to buy her work.

Today Catriona Millar is recognised as one of Scotland's foremost figurative painters. She is listed in the 2012 edition of Who's Who in Scotland. The Sunday Herald Newspaper has ranked her in the top five most collectable Scottish artists and her work is collected throughout Europe, the Far East and America. She has won the respect and acclaim of collectors, critics and leading galleries while her stunning works continue to enjoy a special place amongst the contemporary art buying public.

An early career as an illustrator/graphic designer, backed by training from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in illustration and printmaking, has informed Scottish artist Stuart Moir’s practice as a painter welcomely. Similarly to the way in which an illustrator uses their drawings to enhance the written word or an idea, Stuart Moir’s paintings evoke a sense of narrative which delves into the history of the figure portrayed in his portraiture paintings through busy detailed backgrounds and inscriptions within his artwork.

Meticulous execution is married with Stuart Moir’s main creative influences: 16th century Indian and Flemish art and the French Naturalists.

The impression had on Stuart Moir by the French Naturalists of the art world can be clearly seen within his paintings and the effort taken to depict his subjects in both a natural and historically accurate social environment.

Highlighting almost forgotten individuals who lead influential lives throughout history is a leaf straight out of Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s book, a particular favourite of Stuart Moir and one of the most significant artists of 16th century Dutch and Flemish Renaissance period. As Pieter Bruegel the Elder used his platform to paint, and by which draw attention to, the everyday man and his world, he became a pioneer for ‘genre painting’, shedding a unique light on the folk culture which is still distinct within Belgian life and culture today.

Stuart Moir paints people of note that may otherwise be lost to the histories, illuminating them and hopefully commemorating them in the manner deserved.

Morag Muir was born in Glasgow in 1960. She studied Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, graduating in 1982. Her tutors included Alberto Morroco and Dave McClure. A year later Morag completed a year of postgraduate study in 1983, winning the John Milne Purvis Prize and the Major Travelling Scholarship, which financed further study in Italy.

After graduating Morag Muir successfully balanced a career painting and lecturing. Increasing demand for her art work later resulted in Morag concentrating her efforts on painting and she is now a full-time artist.

In recent years Morag Muir's paintings have become more colourful, often echoing the hues of Eastern iconography and early Christian art. Recurring themes to her work include stained glass windows, flowers, textiles and ethnic bric-a-brac share the canvas, populating sometimes curious, ambiguous spaces. As much as anything Morag Muir is motivtaed by the sheer joy of painting. She enjoys the physical act of mixing colour and media to achieve specific textures and transparencies and the constant challenge of communicating her personal aesthetic in physical form.

Morag Muir is the recipient of several art awards. These include: the John Milne Purvis Prize; Scottish Education Department Major Travelling Scholarship; and a Scottish Arts Council Bursary for printmaking. She also received the Small Painting Award (RSW) and three prestigious awards at the Paisley Art Institute.

In addition to Red Rag Gallery Morag Muir has exhibited at numerous venues throughout Scotland and the U.K. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Morag Muir artist studio and like all Red Rag Scottish art it can be shipped worldwide.

Born in England in 1957, Fiona North went on to move to Aberdeen in 1960 and gained a HNC in Fine Art followed by studies at Gray's School of Art where she gained a BA Hons in Fine Art, and she has lived and worked in Aberdeen ever since.

Fiona has always had a keen interest in painting old architecture, interiors and figure drawing. On her work, Fiona North has revealed that she attempts to capture the varying atmospheres we as an audience experience in different locations. Much of her subject matter is abandoned, empty buildings, void of human interaction. However the painter does also complete figurative work, and her distinctive style is emphasized through her use of oil on paper on board.

Fiona North's preferred medium is oil, and depending on what she is painting she can go from smooth lines and shadows to a looser style of working. Fiona North has also said that, "Light perspective and mood are an important factor in my work which I try to convey by using a subtle colour palette."

Fiona has had continued success since graduating and has exhibited at the RSA and shows her work with Red Rag Gallery in Bath as well as other leading galleries.

Donald Provan was born in Scotland in 1964. He is a graduate and postgraduate of Edinburgh College of Art and graduated with a BA (Hons) degree and a post-graduate diploma in Drawing and Painting in 1987.

Donald Provan's art work is largely associated with water, divided neatly between those paintings concerned with 'above' the water and those, always tightly observed fish, concerned with the world below the surface. Has developed a strong and deserved reputation for his large, powerful landscape paintings and also for his superb paintings of fish. He displays a subtle mastery of tone and texture in his modern art works. Often using a limited palette of blues, greys, tans and the softest of browns Provan creates paintings with enduring appeal and the highest quality.

Donald Provan's landscapes often feature the shorelines of his native Scotland notably around East Wemyss, an old mining village where he used to fish as a boy. But people rarely feature in his landscapes, these are paintings about places where land and water meet and are executed with meticulous skill. His paintings successfully capture the intricate patterns of sky, sea and shingle but are less a record of how things actually look than an account of a particular way of seeing.

Donald Provan has had several solo shows and widely exhibited in group shows across the UK. A regular prize winner, he was awarded the David Cargill Award and the 2002 Cuthbert Award for 'New Young Artist' from the Royal Glasgow Institute. He has also received a Grant from The Scottish Arts Council, two from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, Canada.

In addition to Red Rag Art Gallery Donald Provan's art work has been exhibited at a number of leading Scottish Art Galleries including the Royal Glasgow Institute. His paintings are held in both public and private art collections in the UK and Internationally. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Donald Provan artist studio and like all Red Rag Modern art and Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

Lynn Rodgie studied at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen having grown up in a very artistic environment. Her father, also an artist, has inspired and encouraged her greatly throughout her life.

After obtaining a BA Hons degree in graphic design Lynn Rodgie worked as a Graphic Designer in Glasgow for a number of years before deciding to paint full time. Lynn Rodgie's design background shows in her paintings. Many of her paintings are stylised rather than fully representational.

Rodgie is constantly inspired by her environment; the Scottish countryside around her gives endless ideas for paintings. As she says; 'The soft rolling hills of the borders is perhaps not as spectacular as the rugged north or as picturesque as the Lake District, but it has a gentle pull that grows on you over time.The geometric shapes and colours of the ploughed fields, rows of hay bales in a golden field are visions that will get me itching to pick up a paintbrush'.

Artists who have influenced Lynn Rodgie include James Fullerton, John Bellany and Lin Pattulo to name but a few.

Lynn Rodgie works mainly from photographs. 'Photographs enable me to capture the pattern, shapes and composition of a particular painting and I can enhance the colours and vigour of the painting when I get home'. She works mainly in acrylics as she enjoys the versatility of the medium.

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

Born in Middlesex in 1960, Helen Tabor now lives and works in the Scottish Borders. She studied English and History at York university and spent a number of years teaching in the Himalayas before settling in Scotland in 1995.

All of Helen Tabor’s work is in oil and on canvas or board. She normally starts with a background of collage, which creates a textured, patterned effect on which she can build her painting. Using a collage base gives the painting depth and takes Helen in interesting directions, so that the painting is, to some extent, led by the interaction between the paint and what lies beneath. Helen often works with large brushes, initially applying paint boldly and then refining the image as she develops the painting.

Helen Tabor’s inspiration comes from many sources, among them the great Scottish painters of the last century, William McTaggart, Joan Eardley, Anne Redpath, William Gillies and John Maxwell; music, my family, the surrounding hills, fields and shores of southern Scotland and Picasso. Her subject matter may be landscape, seascape, still life or figures although her main interests are in the properties of colour, the effects created by the movement of the paint and in the mood she creates in her painting.

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

Born in Utrecht, the Netherlands in 1972, Astrid Trügg has had an interest in painting and drawing for as long as she can remember.

Astrid’s work was initially inspired by the architecture, textures and shapes of the city and of harbours. In recent years, her passion has been painting still lifes.

She is inspired by everyday objects whose shapes or textures appeal to her. They may bring back memories of her childhood or travels, or sometimes they have an interesting history of their own. By mixing gesso and glue with pure mill-ground pigments like lapis lazuli, she can produce unusually vibrant colours. This technique also enables her to scratch into the surface of the paint, creating fascinating and distinctive textures. She also uses collage, incorporating antique newspapers into her paintings, which often have a historical or personal significance to her. When Astrid feels that a painting is finished, she applies a layer of beeswax to deepen the colour and protect the paint; this is a very old technique.

Astrid graduated from the Utrecht School of Art with a BA in painting in 1991. Inspired by the Scottish coastline, she moved to Edinburgh in 2003 where she completed a post graduate course in painting at Leith School of Art.

In addition to Red Rag Scottish Art Gallery, Astrid Trügg also exhibits at other leading UK art galleries. Each of her paintings is sourced from the artist’s studio and, like all Red Rag Scottish and Contemporary Art, it can be shipped worldwide.

Glaswegian by birth, Scottish artist Nancy Turnbull spent a few years away from her homeland, however her love for the natural landscapes and native flora drew her back to the county of Stirlingshire, where she spent her formative years.

Nancy Turnbull is inspired by nature, both visually and by its very essence. She works to create Scottish paintings that portray the landscape’s transitional state, continually working towards a freshness in her work. Often attracted to subject matter otherwise overlooked, Nancy Turnbull hopes to capture a scene and inspire the viewer to look again and be struck by the beauty that perhaps only she herself had initially been able to perceive.

Nancy Turnbull looks to make impressions with her work, in all senses of the word: Physically with her instinctive marks by using a variety of tools, through imitation rather than exact representation and by evoking a feeling that the viewer can draw from the painting.

Having trodden the coast lines of the scenes she paints her whole life, Nancy Turnbull truly does have an understanding and affinity with each place. The soft colours and tones she uses in her work not only mirror the palette she sees before her but also the calming and peaceful state which the landscapes themselves clearly instil within her.

Nicola Wakeling was born in 1978 in Essex but moved to Scotland when she was one year old. Scotland has had a big influence on her and her work ever since. Showing a talent for art from an early age she went on to graduate with a BA (Hons) in Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art and then a PGCE in Art and Design(secondary) at the London Institute of Education.

Nicola's work is mainly landscape based and is inspired by the beaches and dramatic scenery of the West Coast of Scotland. She grew up in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire and visited the Outer Hebrides several times a year to visit family. The majority of her paintings are based on scenes in the Hebrides. As she says; 'Anyone who has ever stood on a Hebridean beach will recognise the emotions that my work tries to invoke. From the vast expanse of sea and sky to the subtle colour and movement changes that come with the turning tide'.

Nicola has always admired Edward Hopper's work and his simple desire to 'paint sunlight on the side of a building'. Scottish painting is a constant source of inspiration whether it is the figurative work of Ken Currie or the free brushwork of Joan Eardley. 'When it comes to creating a work, my main aim is to paint a sense of space and feeling of smallness within a landscape'.

Each series of Nicola Wakeling paintings begins with a walk. She walks in all weathers and will set off along the beach in rain, hail and sun and with the ever present Outer Hebrides wind. She prefers 'miserable days for interesting clouds'. 'The white beach and turquoise seas on a sunny day are far too glaring and positive'.

Nicola's main method of recording the landscape is with a digital camera. She will take around 200 photographs on a walk of about 3 hours. 'As I'm walking, I'm looking out for the way the light changes as the wind skiffs clouds overhead. The colours are constantly changing as light hits a particular area of sand or the way the sky is reflected in the water. Ideally, I gather material just after the tide has gone out and there is a layer of water that reflects the sky and this can be manipulated to create a sense of space. Other times, I'll be driving and will have to fling the car into a passing place because a certain cloud has caught my eye. When I began painting the Hebrides, I wanted to communicate cultural and family associations within the work. Now it's more about the landscape itself'.

Once she is back in her studio she works with music constantly blaring, first with large brushes to block in shapes then moving on to smaller brushes for detail in the finishing stages. 'Oil paint is a glorious medium, it smells like you're doing something important and the strength of colour suits my subject matter. I use large japanese brushes to achieve the smooth reflections and large cloud areas.' She uses mixed media and various techniques including wax and household paint in order to achieve the many different textures that are found on the shore.

Artist Nicola Wakeling is one of a growing number of artists whose modern art works feature at Red Rag Gallery in Bath. Modern art work from Nicola Wakeling is regularly exhibited at the Bath art gallery which also offers an extensive choice of modern art, contemporary sculptures and collectible art prints from other present day artists.

In addition to Red Rag Art Gallery Nicola Wakeling art work has been exhibited at other leading Scottish Art Galleries and are held in several collections. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Nicola Wakeling artist studio and like all Red Rag Modern art and Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

Tom Watt was born in Montrose in 1951. He studied drawing at Edinburgh College of Art from 1971 to 1975 under Philipson, Peploe, Cumming and Michie

After art college Tom Watt undertook a career in teaching where he was ultimately working as Head of Art at James Gillespie's High School in Edinburgh. During this time most of his paintings produced by Tom Watt were commissioned art pieces. He eventually left Art Education and since then has spent the last 20 years devoting himself entirely to painting.

Tom Watt has always been fascinated by the effect of light and colour on his surroundings. His subjects have included the small fishing villages of Fife, the canals of Venice and the Tuscan and Gascon countryside.

A move from Scotland to the south-west of France has seen Tom responding to the warm dappled sunlight around him in the harbours of the Mediterranean and the outdoor life of the local people.

Tom Watt paintings are to be found in the art collections of The Royal Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank, West Lothian District Council, the Sutherland Regional Authority, PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Boland Limited as well as in many private art collections throughout the UK, France, Germany and Canada.

Colin Wilson - Red Rag Gallery

Born in Falkirk in 1988 and originally from Linlithgow, Colin Wilson now lives and works in Edinburgh. Graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 2010, Wilson has been hailed as one to watch after being chosen to exhibit in the Royal Scottish Academy’s ‘New Contemporaries’ exhibition in 2011.

Colin Wilson says ‘painting photo realism still-lifes with a contemporary twist has always been my favourite subject matter and I am so delighted to see the response for my latest work, some of which really pushes the boundaries in its contemporary approach to this more traditional format and subject matter’.

Artist Colin Wilson’s original work is now sought after by collectors throughout the world and, as well as at the Red Rag Gallery in the Stow on the Wold, he exhibits at a number of leading contemporary art galleries throughout the UK.