John Houston OBE, RSA, RSW (1930—2008) John Houston was born in Buckhaven, Fife, and studied painting and drawing at Edinburgh College of Art. He taught at Edinburgh College of Art between 1955 and 1989 and became synonymous with the Edinburgh School of post war painters. He was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 1972 and received an Honourary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 2004. A retrospective exhibition celebrating his work to date was held at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in 2005. During his painting career at The Scottish Gallery, John Houston was ten times a solo exhibitor at The Edinburgh International Festival Exhibition between 1961 and his last show in 2008. He was an expressionist who could also evoke the subtle, particular character of place, but as with The Festival his vision and ambition always looked outward. Still life was an important subject throughout Houston’s career, John Houston, c.1965. Photograph: Elizabeth Blackadder
the best qualities of which are demonstrated in this painting: a boldness of form, richness of colour and expressionist, energetic handling of his medium. The Scottish Gallery is hosting an exhibition celebrating the life and work of John Houston in June 2017, as part The Gallery’s 175 celebrations.
32. Poppies and Fruit, 1996, oil on canvas, 112 x 86.5 cms
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