Artist statement - Angus McEwan RSW RWS
I am recording the past as it presents itself to me now. A moment before it is finally
extinguished. I try to present a view of the neglected, a beauty that is inherently hidden by
our attitude towards old, broken or discarded elements of the past. I want to give them
value again.
Although a mirror is supposed to reflect truth, it also changes that which we look at.
Similarly an artist who reflects on the world around him must also change and interpret his
version of truth. It is the role of the artist to be more than a mere recorder of facts but to be
an editor and conductor of many facets that produce an interesting image.
I value time and the way it affects everything. It reveals character within all that it touches.
The worn beauty which is slowly coaxed out of peeling paint, rotten wood, rusted
implements or wind torn rock appeals to me. I want to record them, but I also want to do so
with emotion. I want to say something about my subject matter and as such embellish,
change, modify, emphasise and sublimate in order to get my message across.
It is my interpretation of the subject and therefore like the mirror I may reflect upon that
subject but at the same time I’m compelled to change it.
About the Artist
In 1983 Angus McEwan went to Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee and did a
Degree in Fine Art then a Post-Graduate Degree in Fine Art
Angus then did a postgraduate certificate in Secondary Education at Aberdeen’s Northern
College, gaining a distinction. Independent of his studies at college, he won the prestigious
Alastair Salvesen Travel Award and Scholarship. When Angus finished his teaching
certificate he travelled to China (visiting Beijing, Xian, Yangtze River, Wuhan, Guilin and
Yangshuo) for approximately 3 months. During that visit to China Angus created a total of
51 pieces of work, which went on display in the Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound,
Edinburgh. Angus was then approached to do some part-time teaching at Dundee College,
and currently teaches on the portfolio course, HNC contemporary Art practise, Computer
Arts, BA Design & Creativity course and life drawing. Angus continues to practise his art and
has exhibited extensively throughout, UK, United States, Asia and Europe.
Society Membership
In 1995 Angus McEwan was elected a member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in
Watercolours (RSW) and has twice been a member of the council (each tenure lasts 3years).
Angus was also treasurer of the Hospitalfield Alumni Association from 2005 to 2010. In
2006 he was elected a member of the International Guild of Realism (IGOR) which is based
in the USA. In 2009 Angus was elected an associate member of the Royal Watercolour
Society, London (ARWS), and elected a full member in 2012 (RWS)
Biography
1963
1987
1988
1996
1997 - Present
2005
2006
2007/10
2009
2012
Born, Dundee, Scotland
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee
B.A. (Hon’s) Fine Art.
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee
Post-Graduate, Fine Art. (Commended)
Northern College of Education, Aberdeen
Post-Graduate Certificate Secondary Education
Art and design. (Distinction)
Part-time Lecturer in Art and Design, Dundee College
Treasurer, “Hospitalfield Alumni Association”
Elected Associate member of The International Guild of Realism (IGOR)
Elected member of RSW council (3 years)
Elected Associate member of the Royal Watercolour Society, London
Elected full member of the Royal Watercolour Society
Awards and Scholarships/Honours
2012
2007
2007
2006
2005
2005
2004
2003
2002
2002
2001
1999
1996
1995
1995
1990
1987
1987
1986
1st Prize – International Prize, “Marche d’ Acqua” Fabriano Watercolour 2012
2nd Prize, Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander / Sunday Times Watercolour
Competition, London
International Artist Magazine, “Finalist Award (issue 56)
International Artist Magazine, “Finalist” Award (issue 48)
Elected Associate member of the International Guild of Realism, USA
John Blockley award, Royal Institute of painters in water colours
John Gray award, RSW
International artist award – Finalist (issue 30 & 33)
Elected member of Visual Arts Scotland
Diana King/Scottish Gallery Award, RSA
The Glasgow Art Club Fellowship, RSW
Alexander Graham Munro Award RSW, Edinburgh
Alastair Salvesen Art Scholarship, Travel Award and Exhibition. Travel to ChinaJuly to October, 1996
Elected Member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours
Royal Scottish Academy Latimer Award, Edinburgh
Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Second Award, Canada
Scottish Education Department Minor Travelling Award
Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award, Canada
Hospitalfield House Art College Scholarship.
Solo Exhibitions
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2002
2002
2001
2000
1997
1997
1996
1994
1992
1990
“Mirror Image”, Queens Gallery, Dundee
“Resonance”, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
“Insights”, Queens Gallery, Dundee
“Curiosities”, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
“New Paintings”, Queens Gallery, Dundee
“Farthest West, al-Maghreb al-Aqsa”, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
“Venice…..a word to replace music”, Queens Gallery, Dundee
“Scratch the surface”, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
Glasgow Arts Club, Glasgow
“Out of the Shadows”, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
Shire Pottery and Gallery, Alnwick
“Evolution”, Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
Le Mur Vivant Fine Art, London- “Chinese Whispers”
Leith Gallery, Leith, Edinburgh- “Icons”
Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh- “Alastair Salvesen Travelling Scholarship”
Gallery 41, Edinburgh- “Country of the Mind”
Tolquhon Gallery, Aberdeenshire
Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven
Selected Group Exhibitions
2012
2007
2006
2003
2001/02-11
1997
1996
1995/96
1995/96/97/98/99
1993
“Art of the Real”-Touring exhibition with David Poxon RI, Denis Ryan RWS
and Sandra Walker RI: Exhibiting in Aldeburgh, England; Charleston, USA;
Roundtop, Texas, USA; London; New York, USA; Edinburgh, Scotland;
Shanghai, China.
“Scots Abroad”, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
“Leading Masters of Contemporary Realism”, Winstanley-Roark Fine Arts,
MA, USA
“Tale of two Cities”, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
“Artists Kew”, Kew Gardens, London
Mike Healey, Angus McEwan, Lachlan Goudie, Thompson’s, London
“If I could go anywhere”, Alastair Salvesen 15 years, RSA, Edinburgh
“Enchanted Places”, Reinhard Behrens, Angus McEwan Charles McQueen,
Dawson Murray, Shire Pottery Gallery & Studios, Alnwick
Scottish show, Thompsons Gallery, London
The Natural World, Beatrice Royal Art Gallery, Hampshire
Princeton International Art Exhibition, New Jersey, U.S.A
Scotfest Exhibition, Manhattan, New York, U.SA
Two – man show; Angus McEwan & Jack Morrocco Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
Ten Years On – The Alastair Salvesen Art Scholarship 1989-1998
RSW comes to Richmond, The Richmond Hill Gallery, Surrey.
Two – man show, Angus McEwan & Robert Saunders, Leith Gallery Edinburgh
The Sea - The Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther
Leith Gallery, Leith, Edinburgh
The Courtyard Gallery, Crail Uprising Exhibition, The Meffan Institute, Forfar
River Spirits Exhibition – toured Scotland
Mixed Exhibitions
2010/11/12
2006
2005/6/7/9/12
2000-02/05
2001/02/03/04/06
2002-11
2002-08
2001-12
2001/02/03/04/08
1999 - 12
2000-07
1998
1997/00
1996
1993/99
1993
1992
1990
1989
1995-00
1994/95/96
1993/94/96-04
1994/95
1990/92
2004/05/07
1991/94-12
1990/95/03/07
1988/98/00-05
1988/99
1988/89/90/91/94
Royal Watercolour Society, Bankside Gallery, London
C21, Royal Watercolour Society, Bankside Gallery, London
“Singer & Friedlander/Sunday Times, Watercolour competition”, Mall
Galleries London & Manchester Town Hall
Thomson Roddick & Medcalf
Glasgow Arts Fair, Glasgow
Blythswood Gallery, Glasgow
Jerdan Gallery, Crail
Thompsons Gallery, Aldeburgh
Thompsons Gallery, London
The Open eye Gallery, Edinburgh
Frames Gallery, Perth
Le Mur Vivant, London
Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours; Bankside Gallery, London
Celebration of Scottish Contemporary Art, House for an Art Lover, Glasgow
Finalist Noble Grossart Painting Prize, R.S.A Edinburgh & Glasgow School of Art
Artexpo, New York Arts Fair, U.S.A.
British Consulate, New York, U.S.A.
Exhibition of R.S.W painters, Bilcliffe Fine Art, Glasgow
New York Arts Fair,U.S.A.
Finalist, The Morrison Scottish Portrait Award Exhibition, R.S.A. Galleries,
Edinburgh.
Guardian "Art for Sale" Show, April 1993, October 1993 and December
1993, London
"A Decade of Fine Art 1982-1992", Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art
Best Graduates, McManus Galleries, Dundee
Finalist Scottish Drawing Competition 1991, Paisley Art Institute
Finalist Hunting Group Art Awards Exhibition, The Mall Galleries, London,
Birmingham, Great Yarmouth.
Courtyard Gallery, Crail
Gallery Lauritzen, Frederickstad, Norway
Bilcliffe Fine Art, Glasgow
Society of Scottish Artist, Edinburgh
Scottish Artists and Artist Craftsmen, The Mound Edinburgh
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, London
Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours, The Mound, Edinburgh
Royal Scottish Academy Summer Show, Edinburgh
Royal Glasgow Institute Annual Exhibition, Glasgow
Scottish Society of Artists, Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh
Aberdeen Artists Annual Exhibition, Aberdeen