Unlike many trained artists he does
not feel the need to expand upon or to explain his work as he feels
there is no hidden meaning behind his images, just nature at its'
best, new growth in the spring, the different light which summer
brings, the beautiful colours and the swirling mist of Scottish
snow clad mountains with a herd of deer or ptarmigan dotted somewhere
on the landscape.
But those who know about wildlife, their habits, their changing
colours through the changing seasons, realise that Alan can depict
the landscape and wildlife on canvas intuitively, accurately and
with a scale of knowledge far beyond many other wildlife artists
in Britain.
He is passionate about the west coast of Scotland and weather permitting,
he will take himself off in his 17ft open wooden boat to the west
coast, which is a constant source of inspiration for him. The seascapes,
the beautiful un spoilt white beaches and remote rocky bays that
can only be reached by boat evoke a range of emotion within him.
He explains that alone, with his camera and sketch book he can collect
a myriad of ideas for larger paintings, depicting the landscapes,
seascapes and seabirds of the west coast from the Treshnish Isles
to Jura, Skye and the Summer Isles. It is from these experiences
that his inspiration is fed. He admits that on his return from these
trips he is rejuvenated by the solitude and sense of adventure.
He has set out from Oban and sailed to Fingals Cave and delights
in telling the story that he played Mendelson's Fingals Cave while
moored in the cave. Mind blowing natural acoustics.
"Alone in an open boat with the opportunity to have dolphins
swim alongside, to see beautiful beaches with absolutely no sign
of human life and to know that behind every headland there's something
new and exciting to see fills me with a sense of wonder and expectancy."
His ambition is now to buy a bigger boat to allow him to sail even
further. He dreams about exploring St Kilda and some of the more
remote islands of the Shetlands sometime in the future, but that
is another story yet to be told.
Having had no formal training in art. he has become the artist
he is through his own study and knowledge of the landscape and wildlife.
He is generally shy when asked about his technique and styles for
they differ with different mediums he uses and he really does not
see himself in the echelons of other great wildlife artists. Many
of his patrons, however would disagree and given he has sold over
600 original paintings during his time In Glen Lyon is remarkable
evidence in itself that he is indeed an artist of high repute and
demonstrates how popular and well received his work has now become.
People are disappointed when they realise that he cannot be commissioned
to do a painting of their choice. He explains that he feels he produces
a much better painting when left alone to compose his own creations.
"I paint from what is inside my head and I concentrate on
keeping the gallery an interesting place for people to visit. It
changes a lot, some are sold, new ones are hung and this is good
for our regular visitors to see new paintings. If people are making
a long trip to see my work, I like their visit to be something special,
so I do put a lot of effort into making their trip worthwhile by
hanging my new works as soon as they are dry."
His new gallery will still be known as Glenlyon Gallery, a name
synonymous with his own. He acknowledges that the new place may
not have the uniqueness of Glen Lyon, but readily admits that as
an artist, it will provide him with a host of new challenges, greater
opportunities, more wall space than he ever imagined and an entirely
new vantage point from where this fearless and extremely creative
man can continue his life's work.
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