Gamrie is an area of Aberdeenshire, in the northeast of Scotland, encompassing spectacular country landscapes and the picturesque coastal villages of Gardenstown and Crovie. Built into the old red sandstone cliffs, the villages have a quaint atmosphere. From the harbour and beaches, you can look out over the Moray Firth and perhaps catch a glimpse of the dolphins that often swim in the bay or experience one of the stunning sunsets. Ian Fleming was born and schooled in Glasgow and taught at the Glasgow School of Art from 1931 until 1947. He was an encouraging teacher who quietly nurtured the careers of many painters, including the Roberts, Colquhoun and MacBryde, and Joan Eardley. He moved to Aberdeen (by way of Hospitalfield House in Arbroath) and eventually became Head of Painting at Gray’s School of Art. An early love of etching was sustained and in 1987 he showed a series of etchings at The Scottish Gallery. In painting, he was an influence on many, including William Burns, Robert Henderson Blyth and Joan Eardley.
About Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming was born in Glasgow in 1906 and studied at Glasgow School of Art during the 1920s. He began printmaking at art school, where his skill was quickly noticed, with Glasgow Art Gallery purchasing two of his prints while he was still a student. He joined the staff at Glasgow School of Art in 1931 and soon met the Edinburgh-based printmaker William Wilson through their mutual acquaintance Adam Bruce Thomson.
