Timothy Taylor Gallery

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Craigie Aitchison, one of the UKʼs most distinguished painters and a Royal Academician, is celebrated for paintings that explore traditional genres of art in highly unorthodox ways.

In the first exhibition of new work since his retrospective exhibition ʻOut of the Ordinaryʼ at the Royal Academy in October 2003, Aitchison presents landscapes, still-lifes and crucifixions, incorporating new imagery such as a rainbow, inspired by the observation of one seen during a journey from his home in Italy to London.

ʻCraigie Aitchison distils images of great simplicity and beauty from the everyday world. The colour sings, forms and shapes answering and completing one another in pictorial space divided up with razor-sharp accuracy. Aitchison himself says: ”In the end itʼs the shapes, whatever anybody says, that decide whether the picture is any good.” But it will undoubtedly be as a colourist and for his original contribution to our understanding of ourselves – through his unique, moving and endearing imagery – that he will be celebrated and best remembered.ʼ – Andrew Lambirth, ʻOut of the Ordinaryʼ, Royal Academy of Arts, 2003

Craigie Aitchison was born in Edinburgh in 1926 the younger son of a leading Scottish lawyer and a mother who from an early age encouraged Craigieʼs artistic interest. After initially following in his fatherʼs footsteps and spending time training to become a lawyer he abandoned this career and entered the Slade School of Art in 1952; fellow students included Myles Murphy and Euan Uglow. Aitchisonʼs work is now exhibited widely in the United Kingdom, and internationally. In 2003 Craigie Aitchison was the subject of a major retrospective at the Royal Academy of Arts, London.

A fully illustrated catalogue including a conversation between the artist and Andrew Lambirth accompanies the exhibition. There will be a limited edition of 300 signed copies of the book accompanied by a signed silkscreen print, in a special presentation case, available during the exhibition.

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• Read more about Estate of Craigie Aitchison