MacDonald, Hamish
Hamish MacDonald (1935 - 2008) was a painter born in Glasgow.
He spent his early years with his parents in the Scottish Highlands before returning to Glasgow aged eight. Keen on sport, he attempted a career as a footballer but was not up to the standard required and in 1955 enrolled at Glasgow School of Art, but was thrown out after a three-month trial period.
Determined to succeed as an artist, he exhibited at the RSA and was accepted a second time in 1963 and qualified in 1967 with a Diploma in Fine Art. He exhibited solo locally at the Glasgow Film Theatre while still a student and held a second show at the Citizens' Theatre in 1967. MacDonald taught for 25 years, becoming Head of Art at St Patrick's High School, Coatbridge. He travelled extensively and painted views in Italy and Marrakech for which he became best known.
He was inspired by the work of the Scottish Colourists, in particular, Peploe and Cadell. MacDonald held numerous exhibitions, including a number at the Lemon Street Gallery in Truro, Cornwall run by his daughter, Louise Jones and also showed at the Torrance Gallery, Edinburgh, 1985, the Kingfisher Gallery, Edinburgh, 1987, the Atholl Gallery, Dunkeld, 1987 and the Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven in 1988. His works can be found in many major collections, including HM Queen Elizabeth II, The Duke of Edinburgh, Royal Cornwall Museum, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and Paisley Art Gallery.
His awards included the Laing Competition in 1989 and RGI, Royal College of Physicians Award in 1993. In 2007 Macdonald was diagnosed with malignant pancreatic cancer and he then began sketching his fellow patients undergoing chemotherapy. This ultimately led to an exhibition of his work in the atrium of the Wolfson Medical Centre Building in Glasgow University, some of which are on permanent display.
Bibliography:
Hamish MacDonald : The art from drawing good from bad: Catalogue of an exhibition held and published by Lemon Street Gallery, Truro, Cornwall, 2008. ISBN 9780955434228.
Colour around every corner : Hamish MacDonald: Catalogue of an exhibition held and published by Lemon Street Gallery, Truro, Cornwall, 2005. ISBN 0955017513.
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