Pat Douthwaite (1934-2002) continues to intrigue and divide. She has fierce adherents who respond in a personal way to the challenging themes and imagery in her work. There are also sophisticated, established figures in the art world who instinctively reject her as an outsider, even after her passing. The extraordinary range of her subject matter from myth, to real life crime, to fashion, to fantasy, animal, erotic, quixotic, always surprising, is unified by her own highly personal aesthetic which challenges the audience to love or hate.

Gallery Director Guy Peploe knew the artist well and is the recognised expert on her work. His monograph on the artist, published in 2016, is available to purchase here.

Pat Douthwaite

Born: 1934

Place of Birth: Glasgow

Died: 2002

Pat Douthwaite was born in Glasgow in 1934. She studied mime and modern dance with Margaret Morris, whose husband, J. D. Fergusson, encouraged her to paint. This important influence apart, she was self-taught. In 1958 Pat lived in Suffolk with a group of painters, including the Scots Colquhoun and MacBryde, and William Crozier. From 1959-1988 she travelled widely, to N. Africa, India, Peru, Venezuela, Europe, U.S.A., Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan, Ecuador and from 1969 lived part of the time in Majorca, and more recently in various properties across the Scottish Borders. She died in July 2002 in Broughty Ferry.

Gallery Director Guy Peploe knew the artist well and is the recognised expert on her work. He published a monograph on the artist in 2016.

On The Edge

Pat Douthwaite

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