Rose Cirrus over the Hebrides

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Rose Cirrus over the Hebrides
James Spence
Watercolour 1997

A subject to which Spence returns time and again is the dramatic West Coast sky. This intense skyscape is strongly indicative of Spence’s style. He presents the sky itself as a turbulent and mysterious entity, almost dancing across the page. He strives to capture the elusive qualities of natural light, like the Impressionists before him, displaying a particular fascination with dawn and twilight. His palette betrays an almost Fauvist sensibility, as this rich, violet colour scheme is transferred to many of his subjects; from sun bruised landscapes to pet studies and still lives.

Throughout his career, James Spence has worked for the promotion and development of contemporary visual art in the West of Scotland. In 1957, while a student at Glasgow School of Art, he co-founded the Glasgow Group of artists with James Morrison and future wife Anda Paterson. Members of the Group were dissatisfied with the restrictive, institutional exhibition system in place. Rather than rely on these institutions, the Group set up its own annual exhibition. Spence was the first president of the Group, leading it for over 30 years. The Glasgow Group Scottish Artists Co-operative continues to exhibit every year.