I am thrilled that the Scottish Colourists: Art and Life publication day has been confirmed as Thursday 24 September 2026.
The Scottish Colourists for the National Galleries of Scotland
I used to be a Senior Curator at the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS), where I curated exhibitions of the works of F. C. B. Cadell, J. D. Fergusson and S. J. Peploe. It was therefore a joy to be commissioned by the NGS to write a book about them and their fellow Scottish Colourist, G. L. Hunter. The blurb for the book reads: ‘This is the story of the interwoven lives of Samuel John Peploe, John Duncan Fergusson, George Leslie Hunter and Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell. They were bound together by friendship and an immersion in progressive French art, which resulted in their use of bold design, beautiful brushwork and, above all, brilliant colour. Individually and collectively the four artists were the torch bearers of modern art in Scotland. In 1937 the artist David Foggie described Peploe as ʻthe creator of a new beauty, entirely of this century and uniqueʼ. This description can be applied to all the members of the quartet now celebrated as the ʻScottish Colouristsʼ. In this richly illustrated account based on new research, acclaimed art historian Alice Strang re-examines the Colouristsʼ lives, work and international legacy, revealing why their art continues to captivate audiences worldwide.’
oil on canvas 51 x 61cm
National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh: Purchased 1941
A Book, many Talks and a possible T-shirt
The book features a detail of Peploe’s Tulips – The Blue Jug in the Scottish national collection on its cover. You can pre-order your copy here and find out about the various talks I am giving about it here and on my instagram account. A friend suggested I get a t-shirt made up, featuring the cover design on its front and with a list of associated events on the back, in the style of rock band tours, what do you reckon?! In the meantime, I cannot wait for the Scottish Colourists: Art and Life publication day.
For more about the Scottish Colourists, please follow this link. For a bit about the book writing and publishing process you might enjoy this post. To find out about an exhibition of their work which runs at Perth Art Gallery until 26 October 2026, head to this page.
