John Bellany was born at Port Seton in 1942 into a family of fishermen and boat builders and steeped in Calvinism as a child. His art is profoundly religious in its intimation of morality and recognition of evil. He is one of the most influential Scottish painters since the war, and has re-established a native, figurative art at a time when Modernism and abstraction seemed invincible.
Throughout his career he has painted elemental allegories encompassing the complexities of the human condition and anchored in the rich poetry of the sea; but after moving to London in 1965 to study at the Royal College of Art, his vision and iconography became broader. His towering example has inspired a new pride in Scottish artists; a fact duly recognised when he was awarded the CBE.
His paintings are in the collections of major museums and art galleries throughout the world, including the National Galleries of Scotland, The Tate Gallery; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; and the Metropolitan Museum, New York.
View 1st Exhibition Artwork and 2nd Exhibition Artwork
Visit John Bellany's website