William Gillies enjoyed seven solo exhibitions with The Scottish Gallery during his lifetime, the reputation of artist and Gallery, intimately intertwined. We are delighted to present this exhibition of 15 works focusing on his beloved Borders landscape. William Gillies lived a simple life in his cottage at Temple. Not ascetic nor cut off: visitors were plied with potent home made wines and would take away a pot of jam, and perhaps a watercolour. His studio had a wide picture window which provided the subject for many paintings looking out, particularly in the winter. But it was outside that he was in his element, driving out in his Ford Grenada to revisit a promising spot on the Gala Water or along the escarpment of the Moorfoot Hills, seeing something that others would miss: the straight course of an ancient dyke, a farmhouse half-hidden in a copse of pines, the water of a burn quickening into a ravine. His dark skies and high horizons, subtle washes and perspicacious line make us see the landscape through his eyes and as we pause we can be grateful.
To read more about the life and work of William Gillies please click here.
This is a curated selection – to view more work by William Gillies click here.
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House through the Trees View details
Sir William Gillies
House through the Trees
pen and watercolourH:29cm W:45cmSoldBlyth Bridge View detailsSir William Gillies
Blyth Bridge
1956watercolourH:26cm W:23cmSoldCountry Cottages View detailsSir William Gillies
Country Cottages
1946pencil & watercolourH:27cm W:33cm£3,350In Temple Cottage View detailsSir William Gillies
In Temple Cottage
c.1972watercolour and pencilH:51cm W:35.5cm£5,250Borders Hillside View detailsSir William Gillies
Borders Hillside
oil on canvasH:41cm W:58cmSoldNear Clovenfords View detailsSir William Gillies
Near Clovenfords
c.1960watercolourH:24cm W:25cmSoldMeldon Hills View detailsSir William Gillies
Meldon Hills
1956pencil and watercolourH:24cm W:35cmSoldThe Sheep Pen on Meldons Road View detailsSir William Gillies
The Sheep Pen on Meldons Road
1956watercolourH:25cm W:34cm£3,500The Lark Wood, Summer View detailsSir William Gillies
The Lark Wood, Summer
c.1940oil on canvasH:58cm W:90cmSoldLoading
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