etching – Clive Ramage Art

Aberdeen Art Gallery – My Prints On Show!

I am thrilled to share the fantastic news that 2 of the prints I produced for Aberdeen Art Galleries and Museums (AAGM) in 2023 are now on show in the city’s public art gallery.

The works were created as part of a £2500 ‘Micro-commission’ award I received from Aberdeen Art Galleries and Museums (and supported by Friends of Aberdeen Art Gallery).

They reflect my own ‘lived experience’ of Aberdeen, the city I have called home since 2021. I chose the themes (and titles) of Disintegration, Transformation and Anticipation, with each print created using a different print-making technique; namely etching, screen printing and digital and photographic methods.

The 2 pieces can be seen on the first floor as part of the View of Aberdeen exhibition, which runs until 2028. The exhibition shares locals’ written personal views of the city (positive and negative) alongside artworks and objects that have inspired them.

*Transformation* (screen print with chine collé) 2023 © Clive Ramage

My own pieces, Transformation and Anticipation (above and below), challenge current negative perceptions on the future of Aberdeen city centre, specifically focussing on the rebirth of Union Terrace Gardens and the demolition of Aberdeen Market. They highlight how the disintegration of one thing can lead to the creation of something new and positive in its place.

*Anticipation* (4 colour screen print) 2023 © Clive Ramage

Creating the works was a real challenge, as I wanted to experiment with some new techniques and ideas that were outside of my usual art practice. On top of that, I was also having to produce new paintings for 2 separate solo shows, and everything (including around 40 paintings) needed to be completed by the June deadline for the commission. So the first 6 months of 2023 was an exceptionally busy, but hugely productive and rewarding year for me.

Presenting my Micro-commission at Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Read more about the whole process of my application for the Micro-commission and how I went about creating the works on AAGM website.

The third print in the series is Disintegration (see below) and is now available for sale at my online Shop.

*Disintegration* (screen print with chine collé) 2023 © Clive Ramage

If you would like to own one or the complete set of these 3 limited-edition, original handmade prints, then please get in touch at cliveramage@gmail.com or via the contact page.

ArTay – Perth Festival of the Arts – Opens Today until 26 May!

It’s the end of May, which means it’s that wonderful time of year again when Frames Gallery in Perth invite over 80 of their regular artists to show their work under the banner (and canvas) of arTay, which is held in a huge marquee next to Perth’s Royal Concert Hall over the next 4 days.

The Bell Rock (Gale Force 10) Oil on canvas 25x25cm

I’ve been taking part in this excellent exhibition for around 10 years now, and it’s always great to catch up with old friends during the hand in and hanging of the works and to see what everyone has been working on recently.

Unfortunately, I was unable to help out with the hang this year as I was on a whirlwind journey around half the country dropping off more work to several other galleries on the day (more on that to come!). I did, however, manage to stop by with the 3 oil paintings here, including the newly finished Bell Rock above, as well as this brand new hand-painted etching of Bow Fiddle Rock below.

Bow Fiddle Rock (i) Hand-painted etching 40x59cm

There’s always a great selection of paintings, prints and objets d’art on show and this 4 day event only seems to get bigger and better each year.

Edinburgh Nocturne (ii) Oil on canvas 80-x80cm

The official preview night, know as the arTay Party, takes place this Friday night (24 May) 6pm – 7.30pm and this is your personal invite! Entry to that and throughout the whole weekend is free, so if you happen to be in or near Perth then do come along and see a huge variety of great work by some of the country’s best artists.

Isle Ornsay (ii) Oil on canvas 70x100cm

Opening Times:

Thursday 23 May 10am – 5.30pm
Friday 24 May 10am – 7.30pm
Saturday 25 May 10am – 6pm
Sunday 26 May 10am – 7.30pm

arTay Party Friday 24 May 6pm – 7.30pm

Frames Gallery

10 Victoria Street, Perth, Scotland, PH2 8LW
01738 631085
info@framesgallery.co.uk

Northern Lights – Solo Show Graystone Gallery, Edinburgh (10 Feb – 10 March 2024)

Just a quick note to say there’s only 2 more days to see my solo show ‘Northern Lights‘ at Graystone Gallery in Stockbridge, Edinburgh.

There’s around 40 works in total, including several new oil paintings, etchings and Watercolours.

I’ve also included 3 different coloured versions of my Glitter Moon series of prints, each framed in non-reflective, museum-quality glass and currently available to buy only at Graystone Gallery.

Glitter Moons – Yellow, Blue and Pink, etching and screenprint – 69x80cm (framed individually)

The etchings have proved to be very popular, with A Hot Summer’s Day, Elie (seen below) having garnered 4 red dots so far. I have to thank Duncan MacMillan for his positive review in The Scotsman, describing my etchings as “certainly impressive”!

(Read about Duncan Macmillan’s Scotsman review of Northern Lights here.)

If you’d like a little more detail about the show and see a lot more pictures then I’ve written a blog post which can be found here. Or you can go directly to the gallery’s Northern Lights catalogue here.

Opening times are listed below:

Graystone GAllery OPENING TIMES

Mon-Tues: Viewings and private sales by appointment

Weds-Fri: 11:00-18:00

Sat: 10:00-17:00

Sun: 12:00-16:00

Click here or on the image below for all the details and pictures in Northern Lights!

Duncan Macmillan Reviews ‘Northern Lights’ in The Scotsman

I was thrilled to get a positive review from Duncan Macmillan in The Scotsman this week after he visited my show on Saturday.

“Meanwhile, the Graystone Gallery in Hamilton Place in Edinburgh is a new venture and is currently showing prints and paintings by Clive Ramage. I have noticed Ramage’s prints several times in group shows and the assembly of them here is certainly impressive.”

As well as being Professor Emeritus of the History of Scottish Art at Edinburgh University, Duncan has also been The Scotsman’s leading art critic for several decades and has written many authoritative books on Scottish art. So it meant a lot to me to hear that he had enjoyed the show and was particularly taken with my etchings.

He has praised my moon etchings in Scotsman reviews in the past and also recently gave a favourable mention to my Dunnottar Castle print, which was shortlisted for the inaugural Scottish Landscape Awards.

I’ll be back at the gallery on Saturday 24 February (2-4pm) for an Artist Talk, where I’ll discuss how I made these paintings and prints and also my inspirations. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have if you come along. Please contact gallery owner Lesley at the address below to book your free ticket:

lesley@graystonegallery.com

Northern Lights – A Solo Exhibition at Graystone Gallery, Edinburgh

Last Friday night saw the opening of my latest solo show Northern Lights at Graystone Gallery in Stockbridge, Edinburgh.

A welcoming window display with my latest oil painting of Muckle Flugga (finishedand framed just hours before the show opened!)

And despite the inclement weather it turned out to be a busy private viewing, with people travelling from as far as Aberdeen, Glasgow and Fife for a first look at my latest work.

Over 40 of My Paintings & Prints on Show

With around 40 original pieces hanging across the gallery, it’s a real showcase of everything I’ve been working towards over the past 15 years.

The show is divided into three areas: oils, mixed media and etchings …

… with the pictures hung according to those groupings and in roughly equal numbers.

All in the name

I chose the title Northern Lights as it aptly reflects the nature and atmosphere of the majority of the work included in the exhibition. There are 12 oil paintings in the show, including the 3 above, which feature either Scottish lighthouses or shimmering twilight views across the Firth of Forth.

I’ve also included 3 original prints from my ‘luminous’ Glitter Moon series (above), as well as numerous colourful watercolours of Edinburgh and the East Neuk of Fife.

Dean Village (Sunset), mixed media – 79x97cm

The Old Town, (Twilight) mixed media – 73x87cm

It’s not all about light and colour, however. In my etchings I focus more on the details, marks and tones that help to give each of the prints something distinctly different from all of my other work. On one wall you’ll find various craggy Scottish mountains and ruined castles, including Ben Nevis and Dunnottar. These are accompanied by atmospheric cityscapes of Edinburgh’s Old Town, Victoria Street and Dean Village …

The North Face, Ben Nevis, etching 44×18.5cm

… while on the opposite wall are more etchings of seascapes, including the old piers at both Culross and Aberdour (both shown below).

I’ll be back at the gallery on 24 February (2-4pm) for an Artist Talk, where I’ll discuss how I made these paintings and prints and also inspirations. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have too.

So if you’d like to attend then please get in touch with gallery owner Lesley at: lesley@graystonegallery.com

Northern Lights is on show now at Graystone Gallery in Edinburgh’s gorgeous Stockbridge and continues until 10 March 2024. If you manage to get along to see it then please get in touch and let me know what you think at cliveramage@gmail.com

Some words from Graystone Gallery about the show …

“Look closely at the oil paintings in Northern Lights and you can sense a love of Whistler’s London nocturnes. Clive imbues his oils of lighthouses and the darker seascapes with that same feeling of delicate stillness and calm, building it with layer upon layer of transparent glazes …

Edinburgh Nocturne (Aurora), oil on canvas 98x98cm framed (detail)

The ramshackle buildings and highly detailed compositions and colour schemes of Schiele and Klimt’s landscapes have also had a big influence, which can be seen in the watercolours of coastal villages and Edinburgh in particular …

Ramsay Garden (ii), mixed media – 79x38cm framed

His intricate, detailed etchings, such as Dunnottar Castle, tell their own romantic stories, the individual marks carving out a brooding landscape …

Dunnottar Castle, etching – 77x59cm framed

In each of Clive’s works, there is a tangible sense of yearning, of a desire to create something that is beautiful, yet distant or unattainable. It’s there in those city lights twinkling and beckoning the viewer from far across the Firth of Forth …

The Bass Rock, oil on canvas 80x80cm framed

But there is also a drama at play in these atmospheric pieces that comes from a deeply felt need to create a perfectly constructed arrangement, or a harmonious symphony, out of the interplay between the land, the sea and the elements. Or, perhaps, the essence of Clive’s work is simply his attempt to try to capture and hold on to some long-sought feeling of calm and serenity.”

Graystone Gallery
52 Hamilton Place
Edinburgh
EH3 5AX

GENERAL OPENING TIMES

Weds-Fri: 11:00-18:00
Sat: 10:00-17:00
Sun: 12:00-16:00

Mon-Tues: Viewings and private sales by appointment

Scottish Landscape Awards at the City Art Centre, Edinburgh (4 Nov 2023 – 3 March 2024)

Saturday 4 November saw the opening of the inaugural Scottish Landscape Awards (SLAs) at Edinburgh’s City Art Centre.

And I was delighted to be able to attend the highly anticipated private view of this prestigious new exhibition the evening before, having had my etching of Dunnottar Castle shortlisted for the SLAs back in July.

It was one of only 133 artworks to be shortlisted from almost 3000 entries and, although it didn’t win a prize, I was extremely proud to see it hanging in a fantastic spot in one of the country’s best and most visited public galleries.

It was a wonderful evening of catching up with some old friends in my former Edinburgh stomping ground, as well as meeting a few of my own favourite artists for the first time. It also allowed me to see what’s happening right now at the sharp end of Scottish landscape painting and printmaking.

The variety of work on show at the Scottish Landscape Awards – not to mention the talent and skill employed to create it – ensure that this is a hugely enjoyable exhibition for artists and art lovers alike, showcasing the country’s huge diversity in subject matter and the many different and intriguing techniques used to create the pieces.

My partner Pam who accompanied me on the night

And, of course, its always great to see your work shown alongside your peers and some of this country’s most successful and admired artists.

Barbra Rae announcing the SLA winners (photo by Greg Macvean)

My image of Dunnottar Castle came about as part of a commission I was awarded by Aberdeen Art Galleries & Museums in January 2023. Click here to learn more about and the various printmaking methods I used in its creation. I am also very proud to have an artist’s proof of this print, along with the 3 others I produced for that commission, in Aberdeen Art Galleries & Museums’ permanent art collection.

Describing my working methods to the Friends of Aberdeen Art Galleries & Museums at the city’s Treasure Hub earlier this year on completion of the commission

This has been a particularly busy and hugely rewarding year for me so far: with two successful solo shows under my belt at Frames Gallery in Perth and Inverness Creative Academy; the aforementioned commission from Aberdeen Art Galleries & Museums; and another for luxury Edinburgh-based leather goods brand Strathberry Ltd (of which there will be more to report soon).

At the Scottish Landscape Awards private view with my show catalogue and print of *Dunnottar Castle*

And having my work included in the inaugural Scottish Landscape Awards exhibition, as well as featured in the gorgeous catalogue that accompanies the show, means that this has also been my most successful year to date.

But it doesn’t end there for 2023, or for this particular print! I am happy to say that Dunnottar Castle is also featured in the Meffan Art Gallery annual winter show, which opened in Forfar on Friday 10 November.

As for the rest of the year, I will be working hard to produce new paintings and prints for my next solo show, which is at Graystone Gallery in Edinburgh in February. Details to follow, but I am excited to be the first artist to have a solo show at their brand-new gallery premises in Stockbridge.

The Scottish Landscape Awards is on until 3 March 2024 at the City Art Centre, Edinburgh. Click here to buy a gorgeous catalogue featuring every picture in the exhibition.

Dunnottar Castle, in a limited edition of only 40 signed and numbered prints, is currently available to purchase (in a frame) at the City Art Centre, Edinburgh and the Meffan Institute, Forfar. Unframed prints can also be bought directly from my shop by clicking here.

St Columba’s Hospice Art Show – opens in Edinburgh this Sat 28 October

Just a quick update to say I have 4 etchings for sale as part of the annual St Columba’s Hospice charity fundraising event, which opens to the public this Saturday 28th October at 10am.

The Bell Rock, photopolymer etching (42x42cm)

I’ve been taking part in this fantastic event every year for almost a decade and it’s always a great show. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever with paintings and prints by over 70 artists, alongside a selection of sculptures, ceramics and tapestries.

Victoria Street, Edinburgh, etching (16x21cm)

Buying art, helping others

At least 50% of every penny spent on art over this weekend goes directly to the charity, so it’s a great way to buy something you’ll love and cherish forever while helping the hospice continue to do its incredible work.

This year I have contributed the 4 pieces you can see here. But you’ve only got 2 days to see the show in person and snap them up (although the works can be viewed and purchased online between 10am Saturday 28th October and Friday 3rd November). Click here for the direct link to the online exhibition!

So if you’re in Edinburgh or fancy a day out then get along to the stunning St Columba’s Hospice building this coming Saturday or Sunday between 10-4pm and treat yourself to something beautiful … you know you deserve it! It’s worth the trip for the incredible views across the Firth of Forth alone!

Here’s where to find the art show. It’s free to enter and on-street parking is available:

17 Boswall Road, Edinburgh EH5 3RW

Last week of my show at Inverness Creative Academy – Artist talk Fri 14th July

This is the final week of my solo show Paintings & Prints From Scotland To The Moon at Inverness Creative Academy.

I’ll be on site from 2-3.30pm this Friday 14th July to give visitors a guided walk around the 40 pictures. I’ll discuss the many techniques I use to create the works as well as the inspirations and ideas behind them. I’ll also be more than happy to answer any questions about my practice and experience of working as a full-time artist.

It’s free entry so just show up at the cafe at 2pm and say hello. I’ll look forward to meeting you then!

Paintings & Prints From Scotland To The Moon is on until Saturday 15th July at 4pm.

Open daily until then 10-5pm.

Paintings & Prints: From Scotland To The Moon at Inverness Creative Academy (Until 15 July)

I am delighted to announce that Paintings & Prints: From Scotland To The Moon, my latest solo exhibition, is now on show at Inverness Creative Academy.

Inverness Creative Academy, just a 2 minute walk up the hill from the Eastgate in the city centre and 5 minute walk from the train station

The Assembly Hall at ICA has to be the most beautiful gallery space I’ve ever seen, never mind shown my work in, and I’m delighted with how my 20 paintings and 18 prints look in such a fabulously well-lit and stunning exhibition space.

The staircase provided the perfect place for my 3 Glitter Moons, leading visitors to the upstairs level to where my etchings and watercolours are hanging.

A panoramic view of the landing where 13 of my etchings are on show

The whole gallery benefits from wonderful natural light provided by the many windows and the great arched window on the stairwell. In addition to that there’s a spotlight above every single picture and this really shows off my work beautifully.

Photo etchings, oil and watercolour paintings and my partner Pam enjoying a cup of tea in the cafe

I had some incredible help over the two-day installation from resident artist and ICA technician Martin Irish

The view from upstairs showing my oil and watercolour paintings

And before even half of my pictures were on the walls I was presented with a glowing review of the show by Gael Hillyard, who did a wonderful job of describing the effect my oil paintings and Glitter Moons had on her. Read the full review here.

Review by Gael Hillyard

Paintings & Prints: From Scotland To The Moon continues until 15 July and the gallery is open Mon-Fri 9-5pm and 9-3pm on Saturdays (free entry).

Solo Show at Inverness Creative Academy (10 June – 15 July)

Saturday 10th June marks the opening of my first ever solo show in Inverness.

With this body of work I hope to showcase both my varied interests and inspirations as a landscape artist, as well as the many techniques I use and often combine in their creation.

In conjunction with Wasps Artist Studios, I will present around 30 pieces in total. These will include dramatic new oil paintings of Neist Point and Isle Ornsay in Skye, alongside several mixed-media cityscapes of Edinburgh and surroundings.

Also on show will be a selection of atmospheric etchings featuring, among other things, several Scottish lighthouses, castles and mountains.

There will also be 3 different coloured versions of my recent series of Glitter Moon limited-edition handmade prints, framed with non-reflective glass and available to buy for only the second time.

Glitter Moons – Yellow, Blue & Red, etching and screenprint, 47x57cm (individual image size)

So, all in all, there will be plenty to see across the two floors my show will occupy.

I will be at Inverness Creative Academy between 12-4pm for the opening on Saturday 10 June, so please come along if you are in the area. It would be great to see you there!