John Brown at Eighty

2 July 2026 - 25 July 2026

This July, The Scottish Gallery is delighted to celebrate John Brown’s eightieth year with a major exhibition, marking twenty-two years of exhibiting with The Gallery.

Born in Ayrshire and trained at the Glasgow School of Art, Brown has established one of the most distinctive painting practices in Scotland and has made a significant contribution to art education.

Travel is central to his practice, from the markets of Marrakech and the streets of Havana to the canals, gardens and allotments in Edinburgh. Brown transforms direct observation into richly textured, colour-filled paintings balancing structure with spontaneity. His practice continues to captivate with its warmth, humanity and enduring sense of wonder.

About John Brown

John Brown
RSW
Born: 1945

I have enjoyed taking familiar images down a transitional path from representation toward abstraction.

John Brown studied at Glasgow School of Art (1963–68), later teaching there before serving as Director of Arts at several Scottish schools, including the Edinburgh Academy. He is a long-standing exhibitor at RSW, as well as the Royal Scottish Academy and Royal Glasgow Institute. He has earned numerous awards, including the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Association Residency. Brown’s still life paintings are distinguished by a rich, vibrant palette and a dynamic approach to acrylic, mixed media, and collage. His work explores texture, colour, and composition, capturing everyday objects with depth and energy. His subjects are often based on particular foreign travel, and previous shows at The Scottish Gallery have included works influenced by trips to Venice, Kerala and Mekong and Cuba. Most recently his works have been inspired by the cycle of growth and regeneration of his garden in Edinburgh.

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