03-05-2025 - 24-05-2025
James McDonald is a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, where he completed his degree and postgraduate year 1974-1979. Working initially in the field of printmaking, particularly advanced intaglio techniques, he printed and exhibited his own etchings as well as editioning those of other artists including Dame Elizabeth Blackadder DBE RA RSA and John Bellany CBE RA. As a freelance Master Printer he also produced copperplate maps for Bartholomew’s of Edinburgh. He travelled, living and exhibiting in Sweden and Belgium prior to setting up the Art & Design Department in Cumbernauld College in 1983. Deciding to concentrate on painting, he first exhibited photo-realist drawings with Compass in the mid 1980’s where, much encouraged, he sold his first attempt at serious painting - he says “a rather faltering but lovely wee gouache of old books”. His paintings are meticulous depictions, trompe l’oeil still lifes and exquisite portraiture presented in the manner of an Old Master. A perfectionist eye for detail, he explores numerous themes, from the significance of ordinary objects (often mysterious) to portraits and mementos of family members. His landscapes, sometimes sinister, have an unfailing aesthetic, and document his wanderings from home to studio and other far off lands. James’s style focuses on photo- and hyper-realism and merges ancient traditions with a modern outlook, constructing a poetic world of his own - the concerns and skills echoing famous 16th and 17th century painters. A film maker and an articulate and descriptive author, James has published 4 limited edition Artist’s Books, which provide a deep insight into the mind of a truly dedicated artist, and what inspires his creativity.
James McDonald RSW CV
1974-78 Edinburgh College of Art
1978-79 Certificate of Post Graduate Studies (ECA)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
1985 Etchings & Aquatints, Rijkscentrum Frans Masareel, Belgium;
1986 Etchings, Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop;
Paintings, Main Fine Art, Glasgow;
1989 Paintings & Prints, Glasgow Print Studio;
1991 Paintings & Prints, Cormund Gallery, Glasgow;
1993 The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh;
1994 Roger Billcliffe Fine Art, Glasgow;
The Academy Club, London;
1996 Long & Ryle Art International, London;
Beaux Arts, Bath;
1997 The Beak Gallery, Dublin;
1998 Paintings & Prints, Glasgow Print Studio;
2000/05 The Gatehouse Gallery, Glasgow;
2002 ‘Reflections’ Paintings & Prints, Glasgow Print Studio;
2005 The Glasgow Art Club;
2008 Paintings & Intaglio Prints, Gatehouse Gallery, Glasgow;
2006 The Hallion Club, Glasgow;
2-D, A Double Event (with Neil MacPherson), Compass Gallery, Glasgow;
2012 Intaglio Shores, Royal Glasgow Institute;
2013 Outsider, Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow;
2016 Darkness has its uses, Leiper Gallery, Glasgow;
2017 New Paintings, The Bohun Gallery, Henley-on-Thames;
Featured Artist, Glasgow Print Studio;
2019 Art in the Everyday, The Park Gallery, Falkirk;
Mellotron Cottage, Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow;
2025 Two Weeks Last Summer - Compass Gallery, Glasgow;
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
1990 New Scottish Prints, Mary Ryan Gallery, New York;
1991 The John Moores Competition, Liverpool;
1993 The Spectator/ Adam & Co. Award;
James McDonald & James McNaught, Ewan Mundy Fine Art, London;
James McDonald & Neil MacPherson, Bohun Gallery, Henley-on-Thames;
1995 Triple Vision with Neil MacPherson & Douglas Thomson - Glasgow Print
Studio;
1996-2001 Noble Grossart Painting Competition, Scotland on Sunday, Edinburgh;
1997 Four Painters, The Bourne Gallery, Reigate;
1998 James McDonald & Peter Graham, The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh;
New Art From Scotland, The Leith Gallery/ Forbes Magazine, New York;
2002 James McDonald & Neil MacPherson, The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh;
2007/08 A Scottish Connection, Connecticut & New York;
2009 James McDonald & Neil MacPherson, Bohun Gallery, Henley-on-Thames;
From Life, Collins Gallery, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
PRIZES AND AWARDS:
1978 Andrew Grant Travelling Scholarship;
1985 British Council Travel Grant;
1986 I.B.M. Purchase Prize (SSA);
1987 The Falkiner Award for Printmaking;
1991 The N.S. McFarlane Award (RGI);
1992 The Alexander Stone Foundation (RGI);
1992 Shortlisted for City of Glasgow/Lord Provost Prize;
2007 The N.S. McFarlane Award (RSA)
2012 David Gilchrist Memorial Award (RGI);
2014 Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour;
Work represented in numerous private and public collections in Great Britain and abroad including: The V&A, London; The McMaster Museum of Art, Ontario; The Hunterian Art Gallery & Museum , Glasgow; Strathclyde University; The Clydesdale Bank; The Royal Bank of Scotland; The Bank of Scotland; Arthur Andersen & Co; A:M. Transport; Hove Museum; The Scottish Arts Council; Arts in Fife; Ross Harper Murphy, Glasgow; IBM; BBC; STV; Harper McLeod Solicitors, Glasgow; John Rae Audio Visual; Motorola; Port Charlotte Hotel, Islay; The Walter Scott Foundation; The Commonwealth Institute, London.
