During the Edinburgh Festival 2014, there was an enchanting exhibition of landscapes by Douglas Davies RSW at the Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh. “Shades of Spain and Tones of the River Tweed” captured the contrasting luminous, lush and dramatic views from the Mediterranean to southern Scotland.
Davies has lived in the Scottish Borders for almost forty years, the wild beauty of the open countryside providing inspiration all year round.
An exhibition of New Paintings will be shown at the Dundas Street Gallery from 9th to 23rd April, 2016. This series of work has been, he says, “ a fun year of experimenting .. and celebrates the act of painting for painting’s sake”. The subject matter focuses on the natural world through landscape, seascape and still life.
Working from sketches, the artistic experimentation process adds colour, texture, light and shade to create richly enhanced impressionist watercolours. As seen here, “Cloudburst” is an explosion of blended blues and greys with a splash of sunlight: you can almost sense the chilly air in the stormy rain.
Another stunning scene is “ Drove Road”, depicting the gridlike pattern of golden field and green grass like a patchwork quilt.
No wonder the Borders landscape is a painter’s paradise, to observe the soft rolling shapes of hill and glen, the shifting light of weather and sky through the seasons.
Still Life - in French "Nature morte" - has became a new, more intimate, perspective to his style of work. When winter weather prevents sketching “en plein air,” gathering flowers and plants in the house provides a different challenge.
In this exhibition there will also be fine illustrations of flower arrangements, such as delicate white “Japanese Anenomes” and slender crimson “Tulips,” a simple yet detailed botanical drawing.
As Davies explains about his approach to his art - “To embark on a day’s painting with a large sheet of paper, bristling brushes and good light, is always an exciting prospect if not a slightly apprehensive one. ..!”
So make a diary date and visit the Dundas Street Gallery in April to see this new showcase of paintings by Douglas Davies RSW.
Dundas Street Gallery, 6a Dundas Street, Edinburgh
Saturday 9 - Saturday 23 April, 2016
10.30 - 5pm. (closed Sundays)