Artistic Life of David Michie

The lifelong work and achievements of David Michie are being recognised in the Memorial Exhibition currently being shown at The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh.

Gallery Director, Guy Peploe, writing in the foreword to the 2017 exhibition catalogue says, ‘A memorial exhibition should not be a sombre affair and with the subject being the life and work of David Michie, our exhibition for the month of March 2017 could not be anything but a joyous celebration. David was a devoted son to his mother, artist Anne Redpath, the happiest of married men with his wife, Eileen, the best of fathers to his girls (who have all our thanks for helping to prepare this tribute) and a friend to so many, including the staff at The Scottish Gallery’.

Robin McClure of the Scottish Gallery contributes a moving tribute in which he quotes David Michie as saying: “If I hadn’t been a painter, I’ve not the slightest idea what I would have done, but I’m pleased I spent my life painting. For better or for worse, I’ve inflicted my paintings on the world but I paint because I’ve had such endless entertainment from what I’ve found around me …”

It is almost impossible for me to do justice to the history and achievements of David Michie, a man full of ‘joie de vivre’ and sparkle. His teaching career began at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen and continued at Edinburgh College of Art from 1961 until his retirement in 1990 when he was Head of Drawing and Painting.

I am deeply impressed by, and appreciative of, the vast range of subjects, colour and vibrancy of the work in this exhibition. For example, the oil on canvas painting ‘Summer Garden’ (1990) [in the header] is a positive riot of colour and creativity, reflecting Michie’s talent and interest in the outdoors, particularly in gardens.

Foreign travel, scholarships and a keen artistic eye produced a rich life and a lasting legacy from David Michie, and his many accolades and travels have given the art world a rich tapestry. This oil on canvas work ‘Tropical Plant in Majorelle Gardens, Marrakesh” (1997) is bursting with colour and expressionism.

A complete contrast, full of humour, is  an oil on canvas (see picture above) entitled “Trapeze Artist with Ribbons” (1991). This is a fun, witty piece with a brightly bikini-clad young woman hanging upside down from a trapeze.

The achievements and range of exhibitions and Public Collections – including those with HM The Queen – are a glowing testament to the lifetime and work of David Michie, OBE, RSA, PSSA, FRSA, RGI, FECA.

This exhibition runs until 1st April 2017.

The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street, Edinburgh EH3 6HZ, telephone 0131 558 1200. www.scottish-gallery.co.uk

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday 10 am to 4 pm. (Closed on Sundays)

(All quotes with permission)

Published by

Christine Richard OBE FRSA

http://www.lothianlife.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Christine.jpg Christine has over 25 years' experience in public life in Scotland in the fields of politics, education, public relations and charity work. For 12 years she served on the City of Edinburgh District Council and was her Group's leader for 4 years. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In 1992 she was made an OBE. Christine is a member of the Board of The Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy. She has just completed six years on the Board of The Edinburgh International Festival. Christine's business experience has covered the fields of theatre, economic development, science, coal mining, education and training. She has held a number of non-executive directorships in these disciplines. She is a trained and experienced personal relationships counsellor and a business and personal mentor. In 2005 Christine established Christine Richard Associates who undertake Event Management and Public Relations as well as company and individual profiling. She coordinated the 'Yes to Edinburgh' campaign on congestion charging in Edinburgh. ten years ago Christine co-founded West Lothian Women in Business, which is a network for women who are self-employed and also for women managers. Christine has now stepped down from the Chair of this thriving organisation. For 5 years Christine was a magistrate in the District Court. She was also a member of the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on the appointment of Justices of the Peace. She has been an adviser to Government in various areas of policy, including health, local government and education. Christine is a trained and experienced radio and television broadcaster and writer as well as an entertaining and accomplished speaker. She has a wealth of topics on which she is invited to speak. These range from witty after lunch and after dinner speaking to the more serious topics of the economy, health, education, enterprise, the Powers of the Mind and Life/work balance. She writes reviews and articles for lifestyle magazine, Lothian Life. She took part as a contestant in an ITV gourmet TV show, Chef V Britain, challenging TV chef Gino D'Acampo to cook her signature dish, Posh Cottage Pie. Currently Christine is a member of the Goodison Group in Scotland and Scotland's Futures. Also she is involved in the group Changing the Chemistry of Scottish Boards. Her first novel, Whitewalls, a modern Scottish family saga has been published by New Generation Publishing and is available on all internet books siets and from libraries. She is writing a sequel Autumn at Whitewalls. Her leisure interests include her family, literature, music, theatre, food, wine and horse racing. She is a member of a racing syndicate, which has two horses in training.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *