About us

Our work expresses the emotional aspect of the wild and rugged Scottish
landscape along with the ever changing weather and dramatic lighting that is
only in the West side of Scotland.

We are proud to say that we are indebted to the Scottish Colourists and Joan Eardley.

Don McNeil's Studio

Don prefers to work outside, and, by setting himself a time limit, he seeks to bring
about an emotional charge and expression of being Scottish through physical gesture.

 

Jean Bell's Studio

Jean, on the other hand, prefers to experience the landscape while walking,
(although she quite likes the challenge of working outside as well) and works
later in her studio using images and impressions of what she has seen.

Don graduated in Drawing and Painting from Glasgow School of Art in 1965
and then taught for 30 years, 24 as a Principal Teacher of Art and Design in
Gourock High.  In 1982 he was sent to Japan to set-up art courses, and in
1992 was one of only three Scottish artists to be invited to take part in a week
long Arts Festival in Germany.

Jean, on the other hand, tossed a coin to decide whether to accept her admission to
the Glasgow School of Art or to go to P.E. college.  In light of her present love for
painting she now feels that, perhaps, she did not make the best choice when she
decided to go to P.E. college where she studied creative dance and then went on
to teach in secondary schools until her children were born.  However her
interest in painting still continued and she was helped by a colleague of Don's,
Jim Davis, and then, eventually, with Don himself, when they came together in 1995.

We also have an unusual event when we get the assembled people to produce a composit painting at a wedding, Hen Party, Stag party, special birthday or whatever.  Once everyone has added a bit to the painting they all sign it and present it to the appropriate person.  We use acrylic paint and a box canvas so there is no need to get it framed.