Christopher Wood RSW - Contemporary Scottish Artist

Art groups raise the roof with silent sale

Each year Scotland's three historic art societies – the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Water Colour, the Society of Scottish Artists, and Visual Arts Scotland, which have 1,200 members between them – stage their annual exhibitions at the RSA building.
The annual open shows give young and little-known artists in particular a chance to show work in the capital's prestigious art space.
However, since the building's revamp early this decade, the rent alone now costs the societies £30,000 per year. The National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) rents the building to the societies at cost for seven weeks for their annual shows. [click to read the rest of the article...]

The Scotsman Newspaper: 26 June 2010
By tim cornwell
www.scotsman.com

entry - Tuesday 25th May 2010

The Scottish Business Achievement Awards Trust Charity Auction

The two paintings below were auctioned last week to help raise funds for the SBAAT charity.
Together they realised a total of £8000.

The Scottish Business Achievement Awards Trust is the nation's most prestigious and established awards programme. Founded in 1982, SBAAT has raised in the region of £3 million in essential funding for Scottish Charities while recognising achievement and promoting excellence within Scottish business.

The 2010 event was held on Friday 14 May 2010 at Prestonfield House Hotel, Edinburgh.

entry - Wednesday 3rd March 2010

The Exhibiting Societies at the RSA: Scotsman Review

Duncan Macmillan's four star review of the exhibition and a robust defence of the importance of the three Societies' place in Scottish Culture.
The Scotsman, 2nd March 2010

Read the review on The Scotsman website [ link ]

entry - Tuesday 23rd February 2010

The Society of Scottish Artists 113th Annual SSA Open Exhibition

As a direct result of the previous news entry (8th December, below) I'm afraid I have sorely neglected these pages. I had to take over running of the SSA website as well as everything else involved with the Presidency and as a result have had little time for either my own work or this site.

We have however just opened the 113th Annual SSA Open Exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy and now I hope to be able to get back to work in my studio.

entry - Monday 1st February 2010

Homes & Interiors, Art Words

Issue 69
January/February 2010

entry - Tuesday 8th December 2009

The Society of Scottish Artists

At our recent AGM I had the honour of being elected to take over from Professor Elaine Shemilt as the President of the Society of Scottish Artists (SSA).

These are challenging times for membership organisations such as ours. With private and gallery sales badly affected by the recession, and corporate collecting and sponsorship similarly diminished, artists are finding it harder and harder to make a living. Add to that the hugely increased costs of exhibiting at our traditional home of the Royal Scottish Academy and some might say things look pretty bleak. The Society however, is made up of enormously talented, resourceful, and enthusiastic people and we will continue to work together, to draw on these resources, and to ensure that we will be around for another hundred years.

entry - Tuesday 24th November 2009

The Exhibiting Societies of Scottish Artists (ESSA) Christmas Exhibition

The three Societies that make up ESSA will be having a Christmas fund-raising exhibition of small and affordable works in the three weeks up to Christmas. This is in conjunction with Essential Edinburgh and the City of Edinburgh Council.

Exhibition dates: Saturday 5th - Thursday 24th December 2009

46A George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2LE

Artists hand-in at the venue is Monday 30th November and the exhibition will be open from Saturday 5th December until Christmas Eve.

For further information contact the Society's administrators:
SSA -
VAS -
RSW -

entry - Monday 2nd November 2009

The Royal Glasgow Institute

'Out of Crystal Waters' (below) has been selected for exhibition at the 148th Open Annual Exhibition of the Royal Glasgow Institute at the Mitchel in Glasgow.
For more information, please see Current and Forthcoming Exhibitions

entry - Monday 10th August 2009

RSW Sir William Gillies Award

I am absolutely delighted that my latest work, 'The Wind was the Colour of the Sun' has won the prestigious Sir William Gillies Award at the 129th Annual RSW Exhibition.

This award is presented in memory of one of the founder members of the 1922 Group which included artists such as William MacTaggart RSW and George Wright Hall. Sir William Gillies visited Paris and studied with Andrew Lhote, before travelling to Florence. He painted still lifes, interiors, and landscapes, in particular the villages of Midlothian and the fishing villages on the east coast. He was Head of Painting and Principal of Edinburgh College of Art.

photo ©Paul Reid, Angus Pictures, Scotland

entry - Friday 31st July 2009

New Work

New work completed for submission to The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour 129th Open Annual Exhibition which previews in a couple of weeks in The Meffan Institute.

entry - Friday 31st July 2009

New Work

New work to be published in the catalogue of the forthcoming exhibition at the Manor House Gallery in Chipping Norton.
Larger images will be posted presently and further works as they become available.

The Day Returns

entry - Monday 15th June 2009

First Night: Visual Art Review

The Times Scotland Edition
Published Date: 15th June 2009
by Giles Sutherland.

'The Society of Scottish Artists' well chosen annual exhibition opens in a renovated former jute mill overlooking the Tay.'

'...this is a cleanly hung, well-chosen show characterised by professionalism and integrity.'

entry - Wednesday 9th June 2009

Visual arts review: Spirit of artistic adventure

SOCIETY OF SCOTTISH ARTISTS ANNUAL EXHIBITION ****
VISION BUILDING, SEABRAES, DUNDEE

The Scotsman
Published Date: 09 June 2009
By Susan Mansfield

'...the pioneering spirit of the SSA continues in its readiness to support the work of emerging artists, and to embrace those working in a wide range of media.'

'Another guest artist, Philip Reeves, leads a strong abstract contingent, closely followed by the contrasting works of Christopher Wood...'

[ read review here ]

entry - Thursday 4th June 2009

Royal Reception for members of the RSW at Holyrood Palace

On Wednesday the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay held a reception at Holyrood Palace for members of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour. A selection of works by members were on show alongside works by Prince Charles. The Prince, himself a keen watercolourist, took over as patron of the Society in 2004, following the death of the Queen Mother who had been patron since 1938.

entry - Tuesday 2nd June 2009

The Scottish Business Achievement Awards Trust is the nation's most prestigious and established awards programme.

Founded in 1982, SBAAT has raised over £2.7 million in essential funding for Scottish charities while recognising achievement and promoting excellence within Scottish business.

The 2009 event was held on Friday 29th May in the presence of HRH the Princess Royal at Prestonfield House Hotel, Edinburgh.

I'm delighted that, as part of the charity auction, my work 'On the Brink' achieved a hugely generous bid in excess of £3000 - all profits from which go to the work of the charity.

| website

entry - Monday 1st June 2009

The Society of Scottish Artists Annual Open Exhibition

Exhibition Dates: 23rd May - 19th June

the Vision Building
Vision@Seabraes
Greenmarket
Dundee
DD1 4QB

Opening hours:

Fri 5th June: 9.30am - 8.30pm
Sat 6th June: 10.00am - 5.00pm
(Sat 6th is the last day of DJCAD Degree Show and it closes at 2.00pm today, but the SSA show is open until 5pm)

Sun 7th - 19th June:
Mon - Sat: 10.00- 5.00pm
Sun: 12.00 - 5.00pm

After months of negotiations with the owners of the Vision building and the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and a huge amount of work by the President and the Council, the combined SSA Annual Open Exhibition and DJCAD Degree Shows finally opened on Friday the 22nd May with an estimated 5,500-6000 guests.

We are grateful to Horizon Property Investments Ltd, The Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design; Dundee University; Dundee City Council; James Keillor Services Ltd; Graham & Sibbald, ACT Property Management; Lesley Knox, Chairman, Alliance Trust PLC; Verdant Works; The Natural Bag Company; Stagecoach; Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop; Morton Fraser LLP; The Rotary Club of Dundee; Rick Gallant, Edward Jones; and Graham at Abertay Design Company.

My own particular thanks go to all the members of the Selection and Hanging & Arranging Committees and all volunteers who gave of their time; Mark Ross and his staff, without whom we could not have had the show that we had; Malcolm Grieve from the Meffan Galleries who overcame various obstacles to actually get the work on the walls; and to Michael Robson for so ably assisting Malcolm. I would also like to express my thanks to all members of Council for their work in the months leading up to the show, and in particular to Louise Ritchie for her energy and creativity. And finally to Elaine Shemilt to whom we all, SSA exhibitors and DJCAD graduates alike, owe a debt of gratitude for seeing the whole project through from start to finish.

| website

entry - Saturday 2nd May 2009

New Works Available

image 1 [link] | image 2 [link]
image 3 [link] | image 4 [link]
image 5 [link] | image 6 [link]
image 7 [link]

entry - Sunday 11th April 2009

The Royal Scottish Academy
Spring Open Exhibition

I'm delighted to have had both my submissions selected for this year's RSA Open exhibition.

Exhibition Dates: 18 April 2009 - 20 May 2009

image 1 [link] | image 2 [link]

entry - Wednesday 21st January 2009

Visual Arts Scotland

Annual Open Exhibition

I am very pleased to have had three paintings chosen for exhibition in this year's VAS annual open exhibition.

Exhibition Dates: 31st January - 19th March 2009
City Arts Centre
2 Market Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1DE

image 1 [link] | image 2 [link] | image 3 [link]

| website

entry - Friday 14th November 2008

Barnardo's Gala Art Sale

I am very pleased that both the paintings exhibited at Bonhams were purchased on the opening night, thus helping to add much needed funds to this wonderful charity.

image 1 [link] | image 2 [link]

entry - Thursday 23rd October 2008

The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts

I'm delighted that 'Evening Shadows' (below) has been selected for exhibition at the 147th Open Annual Exhibition of the Royal Glasgow Institute.

Exhibition Dates: 7th - 30th November 2008
The Mitchell
North Street
Glasgow
G3 7DN

image [link]

| website

entry - Wednesday 1st October 2008

The Scottish Contemporary Art Sale 2008

McTear’s Auction Galleries
Meiklewood Gate
31 Meiklewood Road
Glasgow
G51 4EU
Tel 0141 810 2880

image 1 [link] | image 2 [link]
image 3 [link] | image 4 [link]
image 5 [link] | image 6 [link]

| website

entry - Wednesday 1st October 2008

Scottish National Art Competition

I'm delighted to have had two paintings short-listed for this year's Scottish National Art Competition organised by Angus College.

The exhibition runs from 9th - 29th November 2008

Kinblethmont Gallery
Arbroath
Angus
DD11 4RW

image 1 [link] | image 2 [link]

entry - Wednesday 1st October 2008

Barnardo's Gala Art Sale

Bonhams
22 Queen Street
Edinburgh

Continuing the popular annual fundraising Exhibition and Sale, this will be the first Contemporary Art Sale in Bonhams' stunning new flagship premesis.
The Sale dates are: from 10am on 6th - 4pm on 8th November 2008

image 1 [link] | image 2 [link]

Bonham's Website | Barnardo's website

entry - Tuesday 30th September 2008

Leonard Cheshire Disability

60TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Regrettably, the 60th Anniversary Party on the 4th October has had to be cancelled.

The good news is that £60,000 has already been raised and that 'Art in a Shoe Box' is going to go ahead as a stand alone event: a drinks reception on Tuesday 25th November with an Auction and Silent Auction of the prizes that had been donated to the Grand Party. The appeal has prompted a wonderful response from artists all over Scotland and beyond, including many household names, and should raise as much as it would have done as part of the Grand Party - perhaps even more.

All bids will be welcomed by the organisers who are conducting the sale (contact details below). All proceeds wholly benefit the Charity.

| website

image 1 [link]

entry - Friday 9th may 2008

Alastair Michie

It is with great sadness that I pass on the news that Dr Alastair Michie DArt(h.c.), RWA, FRBS has died, aged 86.

Painter, sculptor and illustrator;
Born December 9, 1921;
Died May 2, 2008.

Obituaries:

The Herald
The Independent

Alastair Michie links:

the RWA site [ link ]
the National Galleries of Scotland [ link ]

entry - Tuesday 6th may 2008

Paisley Art Institute

120th ANNUAL EXHIBITION

Three of my paintings have been selected for inclusion in the 120th Annual Exhibition of the Paisley Art Institue at The Paisley Museum and Art Galleries.
[see Current and Forthcoming Exhibitions for more information]

entry - Monday 11th February 2008

21st Century Watercolour

The challenge for watercolour in the 21st century
The Royal Watercolour Society Open Exhibition

'Harbour', my submission to this open-submission competition has been accepted by the judges and will be exhibited at the Bankside Gallery in London from February 15th to March 9th [see Current and Forthcoming Exhibitions for more information]

image [link]

'Coldharbour Rain' has been accepted for the 169th Annual Exhibition of the Institute. The exhibition runs from 20th March to the 5th April at the Mall Galleries in London. This is the first time I have submitted to this competition.
[see Current and Forthcoming Exhibitions for more information]

image [link]

I'm delighted to be kicking off 2008 by introducing my work into two highly-regarded galleries in areas of the country where I have hitherto lacked representation; namely Jersey and Yorkshire.

In Scottish Contemporary Art 8, Falle Fine Art continues its annual exhibition devoted to contemporary Scottish Art and I am very pleased to be included. [see Current and Forthcoming Exhibitions for more information]
| website

108 Fine Art was established in 1997 to promote the work of emerging, and established visual artists working in all mediums.

They hold a regularly changing programme of exhibitions in their Harrogate gallery, and also curate and promote exhibitions offered to public art galleries in both the U. K. and overseas.

I will be showing as part of a three-artists exhibition in February-March 2008. [see Current and Forthcoming Exhibitions for more information]
| website

Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts Annual Exhibition

The following two works have been selected for the
146th Annual Exhibition of the RGI
at The Mitchell
North Street
Charing Cross
Glasgow

Exhibition dates: 12 Oct - 4 Nov 2007

Open to Public:
Mon - Sat 10:30-17:00
Thurs 10:30-9:00
Sun 12:00-17:00

website [link]

The work of 12 Prominent Scottish artists will feature in the Barnardo's 2008 calendar. These works will be sold at auction to raise funds for, and awareness of, the important work of the charity.

Works on display in the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh from 1st October
Contact Suzanne Higgs at Barnardo's for further information [email].

Exhibition dates: Monday 14th - Friday 18th May 2007

Auction for Scottish Arts

This is an auction to raise funds for ESSA, (the Exhibiting Soceties of Scottish Artists) which helps fund the annual open exhibitions at the RSA each year. The works are donated by over a hundred of Scotland's best known exhibiting artists.

Bonhams
65 George Street
Edinburgh

Progressive Auction finishes 2.30 pm Friday 18th May.
Phone bids accepted throughout the week and at essa@essa-scottishart.com .
For registration and information tel 0131 468 0087
Work donated by RSW, SSA, VAS members and others

website [link]

<image link>

sold

ESSA is a partnership organisation of three of Scotland’s premiere societies of artists - the Society of Scottish Artists, Visual Arts Scotland and the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour. Exhibitions, mostly open, are held annually in the Royal Scottish Academy Building in Edinburgh which ESSA leases from the National Galleries of Scotland.

Paisley Art Institute Annual Exhibition

I'm delighted to have had two works selected for the 119th Annual Exhibition of the Paisley Art Institute.

Paisley Art Galleries

5 May to 3 June 2007
10am to 5pm Tue to Sat, and 2pm to 5pm Sun.
Guest painter: Sir Peter Blake RA
Guest sculptor: Michael Visocchi RSA

website [link]

ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY EXHIBITIONS

At this year's annual exhibitions I am pleased to have had three works selected for the Society of Scottish Artists show, two at Visual Arts Scotland and one at the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour.

Society of Scottish Artists 2007
17th March - 12th April 2007
Contemporary Art Open Exhibition
Royal Scottish Academy building, Edinburgh
Saturday, 17 March to Thursday, 12 April

website [link]

Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour
17th March - 12th April 2007
127th Annual Exhibition
The Lower Galleries
The Royal Scottish Academy Building
The Mound
Edinburgh
Saturday 17 March to Thursday 12 April 2007
Daily 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12 noon - 5pm

website [link]

Visual Arts Scotland
17th March - 12th April 2007
Open Exhibition of Visual & Applied Arts
Royal Scottish Academy building, Edinburgh
Saturday, 17 March to Thursday, 12 April

website [link]

I'd like to thank everyone who sent their congratulations following my recent election to the RSW.

In answer to the question this clearly raised - no, I don't really paint in watercolour per se; not in the traditional manner that is. However, I'm delighted that the RSW is a forward-looking institution that embraces all forms of water-based work - including acrylics and mixed-media.

The works I submitted to the Council for consideration were as follows:

...there be Dragons
18 x 24 inches
46 x 61 cm
Mixed Media on Panel
Cat.no: 407

I Can’t Quite Remember
16 x 24 inches
41 x 61 cm
Acrylic Mixed Media on Panel
Cat.no: 503

Broken Water
24 x 24 inches
61 x 61 cm
Mixed Media on Panel
Cat.no: 628

Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour [link]

entry - 28th November 2006

Paintings at the Scottish Parliament

Seven works loaned to the offices of the Convener of the Enterprise and Culture Committee, Alex Neil. The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh.

I am extremely proud to to have been elected as a Member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour [link].

The RSW was founded in 1876 by artists to promote, through exhibition, the medium of watercolour and encourage the bold, free and colourful qualities of Scottish Painting.
The Society has enjoyed Royal patronage since 1886 and throughout its history many renowned artists have been members.
Through its open exhibitions the RSW continues to actively encourage waterbased media art with a generous range of annual awards and to promote its artists throughout Scotland and beyond.

32 pages, perfect bound
27 images (incl. frontispiece)
Critical essy by Iain Gale
Brief biography

ISBN: 0-9554121-0-2

I am proud to have been appointed to the post of Vice-President of the Society of Scottish Artists.

This major exhibition will be shown at Clydesdale Bank Exchange, 20 Waterloo Street, Glasgow from Thursday 25 May - Friday 9 June, open daily Monday - Saturday midday to 5pm.

The positive role that business plays in supporting artists through purchasing art for display in workplaces tends to be over-looked by the art establishment, media and the public. To draw attention to this positive role, Arts & Business will exhibit 70 works owned by 40 businesses in Scotland. This exhibition will mark the 20th anniversary of Arts & Business Scotland and already has the endorsement of A&B Business Members including Turcan Connell, Glenfiddich, Royal Mail, Bank of Scotland, Standard Life and Fairway Forklifts.

118th ANNUAL EXHIBITION
The Paisley Museum and Art Galleries
High Street, Paisley.
13 May to 11 June 2006.
10am to 5pm Tue to Sat, and 2pm to 5pm Sun.

The following painting has been selected for the Annual Exhibition at the Paisley Art Institute. [website]

Glasgow Art Fair:

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6th - 9th April 2006
Represented by the Richard Demarco Gallery.
Glasgow Artfair website

Left to Right:
'One Point of View' £2800
'Sea Wall' £3100
'Flow' £2800
'Mindscape no1' £2950
'Nocturne' £2400

RSA Annual Exhibition 2006

The following painting has been selected for the Annual Exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy. [link]

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8 April - 21 May 2006, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.

21st Century Salon Celebrating 180 years of the RSA Annual Exhibition! Over the years, this exhibition has presented the cream of contemporary art in Scotland and has been the place to see what is happening in Scottish art. With open submission and high profile invited artists, this exhibition is the highlight of the exhibiting year for some 400 artists.