Celebrating Richard – Stained Glass and Paintings by Richard Green (1947 – 2007)

This show celebrates the work of Richard Green, painter and stained glass artist from Edinburgh, who died last year. It opens the summer season at the Gladstone Gallery in the famous 17th century house owned by the National Trust for Scotland, in the middle of the Old Town. This is only the second year this Gallery has been open to the public.

The medieval features and wonderful light are perfectly suited to Richard’s free standing stained glass panels, heavily influenced as they were by the glass of the great churches of the Middle Ages.

Most of the work on display dates from 2003 when Richard was able to devote all of his energies to his creative work and studied at Glasgow school of Art. Until then he had taught art at the Royal High School in Edinburgh guiding, inspiring and gaining the affection of many of young artists and colleagues over the years.

This show replaces last summer’s which had to be postponed after Richard’s unexpected death just a few weeks before the show was due to open.

Richard was first and foremost a painter, and his work glows with colour. So it was natural that he should ultimately turn to stained glass which had always fascinated him. For Richard, creating stained glass was truly painting with light. His approach was unconventional and he was never afraid to break the rules. He often painted or etched both sides of the glass and his lead work is positively sculptural – so much more than just the “glue” between the glass. The panels shimmer with life, rich in images and symbols from ancient Egypt, Scottish churchyards, Christianity and nature, all filtered through his imagination to create work with a strong contemporary flavour.

The exhibition also features some of Richard’s later paintings. These have a high degree of abstraction and throughout the exhibition you can see the strong cross currents between his glass and his painting.

Gladstone Gallery
Gladstone’s Land
477B Lawnmarket,
Edinburgh, EH1 2NT

3-13 July 2008 10.00 – 19.00hrs