All our Modern Masters exhibitions begin with the artist…
When Peter McOmish Dott (1856-1934) transformed The Scottish Gallery’s programme in the early twentieth century, he moved beyond the idea of simply providing artists with rooms to rent. He established a programme of exhibitions that reflected the richness of artistic practice in Scotland and defined The Gallery’s identity for generations.
Inspired by that spirit, I introduced the Modern Masters series to draw on our remarkable exhibition history and create a space where the artists we represent can be seen afresh. Each edition and exhibition is shaped by paintings and objects that return to the Gallery for sale, alongside rare works that we actively seek out, allowing familiar names to reveal new stories and unexpected connections.
Twenty editions on, I am delighted that Modern Masters has become an anticipated part of our programme. It continues to evolve with every discovery, every returning work and every collector who entrusts us with an important piece of Scotland’s artistic heritage.
I do hope you enjoy our Modern Masters XX, which is now on display in The Gallery.
Christina Jansen | Managing Director
Modern Masters XX | Market Insights
Over the past two years, a more measured market has brought greater focus to quality, value and consistency. Modern Masters sits confidently outside the fluctuations of the auction arena, offering buyers and sellers consistent pricing. Our Modern Masters series continues to perform quietly and steadily, both during the exhibition and beyond. Demand for high-quality Post-War art remains strong, underlining the enduring confidence in this important area of collecting.
Joan Eardley | A Rare Opportunity
Joan Eardley remains one of Scotland’s most celebrated twentieth-century artists. We have a remarkable group of paintings and works on paper in Modern Masters XX, which offers a rare opportunity to experience her remarkable vision, from her observed humanity to the elemental power of the Catterline landscape. Increasingly scarce on the market, these paintings remind us why Eardley’s work continues to captivate collectors and museums alike.
Pot of Wild Flowers is a significant late work, painted at Catterline when Joan Eardley increasingly brought the landscape into her studio. Gathered from the fields and coastal paths around the village, the wild flowers became a powerful expression of the artist’s sensitivity to the natural world. Richly worked with vigorous impasto and animated brushwork, the painting possesses the energy and immediacy that define Eardley’s finest late works. Rarely do paintings of this quality and provenance become available, making this an exceptional opportunity for collectors.
The Raincloud is set in tension. The storm has not yet broken: the dark mass of raincloud looms ominously offshore, suspended in that charged stillness familiar to coastal weather before a sea squall finally releases itself.
A rare discovery from the Estate of Joan Eardley, Suffolk Barn with Sugar Beet has never before been exhibited. Painted in Suffolk in 1954, it offers collectors a unique opportunity to acquire an exceptional painting by one of Scotland’s most celebrated twentieth-century artists.
View Joan Eardley’s paintings here
John Bellany | A Life Shaped by the Sea
Bellany at his best is unmistakable: bold, visceral and deeply connected to the sea and the East Coast. The Gallery represented him during the height of his painting powers in George Street, and we are delighted to have several strong examples in Modern Masters XX, including his wonderful The Fisherwoman and the Bass Rock from 1999.
View our John Bellany paintings here
Our Collector’s Eye Series | Consign your Art with Us
Every collection tells a story. In recent years, our Modern Masters series has naturally evolved into A Collector’s Eye – exhibitions dedicated to celebrating remarkable private collections. Rather than dispersing works individually, we believe exceptional collections deserve to be understood as a whole, revealing the taste, passion and vision of the people who assembled them.
Through carefully curated exhibitions, beautifully produced publications and thoughtful storytelling, we celebrate both the artworks and the vision of the collector, creating a lasting legacy while introducing exceptional collections to a new generation of collectors. For those considering the future of a family or personal collection, A Collector’s Eye offers a discreet, thoughtful and highly personal alternative to a traditional sale. If you would like to discuss your collection, please contact The Scottish Gallery for a confidential appraisal and an informal conversation. Our small, experienced team is here to offer trusted advice and guide you through every stage of the process.
Please contact The Gallery here
The Lord Howarth Collection | Koji Hatakeyama
Market Insight
The recent acquisition of Lord Howarth’s distinguished collection of Koji Hatakeyama bronze boxes is a wonderful example of collecting guided by knowledge, friendship and trust. Every work was acquired through The Scottish Gallery, reflecting a relationship built over many years between collector, artist and gallery. We are delighted to have the collection on display once again, with several pieces having already found new homes – evidence of the enduring appreciation for Hatakeyama’s exceptional craftsmanship and the lasting value of thoughtfully formed collections.
View the work of Koji Hatakeyama here
The Scottish Colourists & Wider Circle | Market Insight
Last month’s exhibition, The Scottish Colourists and Wider Circle, was warmly received, generating steady sales and continuing enquiries beyond the exhibition itself. The response reflects the enduring demand for the Scottish Colourists and sustained collector confidence in this defining period of Scottish art. The Scottish Gallery occupies a unique place within that story.
As the gallery that represented S.J. Peploe during his lifetime, and through our longstanding relationship with the Peploe family, collectors continue to place value on the knowledge, provenance and authenticity that accompany works acquired through us. We know the market, we know the pictures, and, most importantly, we know the collectors.
If you are considering buying, selling or consigning a work, we would be delighted to hear from you. With an international client base built over generations, we are well placed to connect exceptional works with the right collectors through a personal, discreet and highly successful service.
Contact The Gallery here
View The Scottish Colourists & Wider Circle here
S.J. Peploe | Still Life with Tulips
Painted in the final years of S.J. Peploe’s life, Still Life with Tulips is a beautifully expressive late work, where colour and brushwork take centre stage. Fresh to the market from the artist’s family by descent, it offers collectors an exceptional opportunity to acquire a painting of outstanding provenance and enduring appeal.
View the work of S.J. Peploe here
The Palette of S.J. Peploe | Kirkcudbright Exhibition
Colour: The Palette of S.J. Peploe at Kirkcudbright Galleries is one of the major exhibitions of the year. With important loans from public and private collections, complemented by paintings and archive material generously contributed by Guy Peploe and his family, it offers a rare opportunity to experience the life and work of Scotland’s leading Colourist through both scholarship and personal insight.
S.J. Peploe | Curator’s Film
lmed at Guy Peploe’s Edinburgh home, this short film by Edinburgh Film Company brings together Guy Peploe and Amanda Herries, Curator of Colour : The Palette of S.J. Peploe at Kirkcudbright Galleries, in conversation about the life and colour of one of Scotland’s most celebrated Colourists.
Guy Friday | Coming this September
Guy Peploe will continue his long association with The Scottish Gallery by joining us for one Friday each month. Whilst many know Guy as a familiar face, he is also recognised internationally as one of the leading authorities on the Scottish Colourists and the Scottish art market. Clients are warmly invited to book a confidential appointment for advice on buying, selling or appraising works of art – or simply to come along and enjoy a conversation with one of the country’s most respected art historians and dealers.
