INTRODUCTION September 2024
Julian Mason has been visiting Scotland since he was a child. As a full time painter, he now spends months away at a time, painting the places that inspire him most. Glencoe and Glen Etive, Glenfinnan, Arisaig, Skye, and Iona are just a few of these places. This new exhibition explores the rugged isolation and beauty of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Out in all weathers with canvases strapped to his back, Julian enjoys the challenges of working outdoors as much as the rewards - the feeling that he is a part of the landscape he is painting. There is a sense of really being there within Julian’s work, a quality that emerges through his quiet and dedicated study of the landscape around him. What emerges on the canvas is largely dictated by the weather and the changing light. It demands a hardiness, and a readiness for both adventure and adversity. The fleeting changes in weather and light mean it is impossible to capture a particular moment in the way a camera might; what Julian paints is the feeling and atmosphere of the whole day, conveying the majesty and the tranquility of some of Scotland’s most beautiful mountains and coastlines. We hope that you will enjoy this exhibition as much as we have enjoyed working with Julian to put it together. In addition to the framed works, the exhibition will feature many of Julian’s oil sketches - small visual and written notes of what has been observed that day. We’ll also be given a visual insight into his interactions on the ferries - the Caledonian MacBrayne network that make all of his painting trips possible.
Eileadh Swan Gallery Director
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