Painter whose work was notable for its exciting sense of movement, light and exhilaration. He was born in Edinburgh and studied at the College of Art from 1982, graduating with a first-class honours degree in painting. Postgraduate studies were completed in 1987. McLaren won many awards; among these were the Richard Ford Award, RA in 1986; the Andrew Grant Travelling Scholarship, to New York: and British Airways Most Promising Artist and the John Murray Thomson Award at the RSA, both in 1989. McLaren exhibited in mixed shows at RSW, Mercury Gallery, SSA, Fruitmarket Open show in Edinburgh and the Morrison Portrait Competition at RSA. He showed often at Compass Gallery in Glasgow and was included in The Compass Contribution at Tramway, Glasgow, in 1990.