A Life in Paint

5 March 2026 - 28 March 2026

Joan Renton

Joan Renton painted for over six decades. From an early age she was determined to be a painter, a decision she pursued with clarity and resolve. She trained at Edinburgh College of Art, where she studied under William Gillies, John Maxwell and William MacTaggart. The influence of this lineage can be felt in her measured approach to colour and form, and her belief in painting as a serious and lifelong vocation.

It was still life that formed the backbone of Renton’s painting practice. Tables, vessels, fruit, and flowers and carefully placed objects from her home and studio recur throughout her compositions. These still life paintings are grounded in the domestic space and lived experience, where balance and colour are patiently resolved. A quiet humour often sits beneath the surface, alongside a strong sense of order and restraint. Her paintings are part of the distinct vocabulary of the Edinburgh School of painting.

A Life in Paint at The Scottish Gallery

Joan Renton

Joan Renton painted for over six decades. From an early age she was determined to be a painter, a decision she pursued with clarity and resolve. She trained at Edinburgh College of Art, where she studied under William Gillies, John Maxwell and William MacTaggart. The influence of this lineage can be felt in her measured approach to colour and form, and her belief in painting as a serious and lifelong vocation.

It was still life that formed the backbone of Renton’s painting practice. Tables, vessels, fruit, and flowers and carefully placed objects from her home and studio recur throughout her compositions. These still life paintings are grounded in the domestic space and lived experience, where balance and colour are patiently resolved. A quiet humour often sits beneath the surface, alongside a strong sense of order and restraint. Her paintings are part of the distinct vocabulary of the Edinburgh School of painting.

A Life in Paint at The Scottish Gallery

Joan Renton

Joan Renton painted for over six decades. From an early age she was determined to be a painter, a decision she pursued with clarity and resolve. She trained at Edinburgh College of Art, where she studied under William Gillies, John Maxwell and William MacTaggart. The influence of this lineage can be felt in her measured approach to colour and form, and her belief in painting as a serious and lifelong vocation.

It was still life that formed the backbone of Renton’s painting practice. Tables, vessels, fruit, and flowers and carefully placed objects from her home and studio recur throughout her compositions. These still life paintings are grounded in the domestic space and lived experience, where balance and colour are patiently resolved. A quiet humour often sits beneath the surface, alongside a strong sense of order and restraint. Her paintings are part of the distinct vocabulary of the Edinburgh School of painting.

A Life in Paint at The Scottish Gallery

Joan Renton

Joan Renton painted for over six decades. From an early age she was determined to be a painter, a decision she pursued with clarity and resolve. She trained at Edinburgh College of Art, where she studied under William Gillies, John Maxwell and William MacTaggart. The influence of this lineage can be felt in her measured approach to colour and form, and her belief in painting as a serious and lifelong vocation.

It was still life that formed the backbone of Renton’s painting practice. Tables, vessels, fruit, and flowers and carefully placed objects from her home and studio recur throughout her compositions. These still life paintings are grounded in the domestic space and lived experience, where balance and colour are patiently resolved. A quiet humour often sits beneath the surface, alongside a strong sense of order and restraint. Her paintings are part of the distinct vocabulary of the Edinburgh School of painting.

A Life in Paint at The Scottish Gallery

Joan Renton

Joan Renton painted for over six decades. From an early age she was determined to be a painter, a decision she pursued with clarity and resolve. She trained at Edinburgh College of Art, where she studied under William Gillies, John Maxwell and William MacTaggart. The influence of this lineage can be felt in her measured approach to colour and form, and her belief in painting as a serious and lifelong vocation.

It was still life that formed the backbone of Renton’s painting practice. Tables, vessels, fruit, and flowers and carefully placed objects from her home and studio recur throughout her compositions. These still life paintings are grounded in the domestic space and lived experience, where balance and colour are patiently resolved. A quiet humour often sits beneath the surface, alongside a strong sense of order and restraint. Her paintings are part of the distinct vocabulary of the Edinburgh School of painting.

A Life in Paint at The Scottish Gallery

Table Top Still Life

oil on canvas
H:79.5cm W:79cm
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Still Life at Patti’s, 2016

oil on canvas
H:76cm W:76cm
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Still Life with Five Vases, c.1980

oil on canvas
H:76cm W:102cm
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Still Life with Oranges and Pears, 2012

oil on canvas
H:50.5cm W:50.5cm
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Still Life with Wine and Cherries

oil on canvas
H:41.5cm W:51cm
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Still Life with Poppies

oil on canvas
H:76cm W:100cm
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The Evening Window

oil on canvas
H:60.5cm W:60.5cm
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Lilies in the Window, Italy

oil on canvas
H:60.5cm W:50.5cm
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Bouquet and Playing Cards

oil on board
H:81.5cm W:81cm
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Rock Pool

watercolour on paper
H:39.5cm W:39.5cm
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Pink Rock, 1989

watercolour on paper
H:21cm W:55cm
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Moonlight

oil on canvas
H:61.5cm W:74cm
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