A person in Scotland is never more than 45 miles from the sea. Inhabitants, whilst seldom dipping their bodies in the waters, often have water on their minds. A compelling source of employment, inspiration and imagination through the centuries, their literature, music and theatre echo it. Their images depict it.
Proximity to the sea is one of several consistent Scottish geographic distinctions. This ‘Scottishness’, the particularities of that piece of the Earth’s surface that is currently called Scotland, has been at the core of ways of life and structures of feeling of all local cultures that flourished here. It will have impacted all artists who worked here.
Rough Seas, Todhead Lighthouse 1980s–1990s
Lilian Strang Neilson (1938–1998)
Oil on board
H 20 x W 44 cm
Maggie's Dundee
A Stormy Day, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
John Muirhead (1863–1927)
Oil on canvas
H 40 x W 60 cm
Maggie's Dundee
Sea and Snow, Catterline c.1958
Joan Kathleen Harding Eardley (1921–1963)
Oil on hardboard
H 18.2 x W 33 cm
National Galleries of Scotland
Seascape (Foam and Blue Sky) 1962
Joan Kathleen Harding Eardley (1921–1963)
Oil on board
H 94 x W 167 cm
National Galleries of Scotland
Muckle Meg 1953–1954
Morris Grassie (b.1931)
Oil & gesso on wood
H 76.2 x W 101.6 cm
Glasgow Museums
A Northerly Breeze 1870
Joseph Henderson (1832–1908)
Oil on canvas
H 44.2 x W 74.5 cm
The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum
Joseph Henderson (1832–1908)
Oil on canvas
H 109 x W 177 cm
Paisley Museum and Art Galleries, Renfrewshire Council Collections
Dusk at Fisherrow, Musselburgh
William Ferguson
Oil on board
H 24.2 x W 34.3 cm
Heriot-Watt University
Approaching St Kilda, Outer Hebrides
Jean Rodger (b.1934)
Oil on canvas
H 182 x W 152 cm
NHS Tayside
Dornoch 1877
George Reid (1841–1913)
Oil on canvas
H 78.6 x W 110.3 cm
Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture
Montrose, Angus 1888
George Reid (1841–1913)
Oil on canvas
H 83.3 x W 102.5 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
Kelp Gatherers 1881
Colin Hunter (1841–1904)
Oil on canvas
H 50 x W 90 cm
Burton Art Gallery and Museum
The Naturalist 1878
Colin Hunter (1841–1904)
Oil on canvas
H 50.8 x W 91.4 cm
Perth & Kinross Council
The Storm 1890
William McTaggart (1835–1910)
Oil on canvas
H 122 x W 183 cm
National Galleries of Scotland
Shipyard Brag 1996
James S. Davis (b.1944)
Acrylic on canvas
H 99 x W 149 cm
Scottish Maritime Museum
View of Craigendoran Pier c.1940
Arthur James Wetherall Burgess (1879–1957)
Oil on canvas
H 59 x W 84 cm
Scottish Maritime Museum
The Boat Builders 1962
John Bellany (1942–2013)
Oil on board
H 274.3 x W 488.7 cm
Scottish Maritime Museum
Fishers in the Snow 1966
John Bellany (1942–2013)
Oil on board
H 250.7 x W 326.9 cm
Scottish Parliament Art Collection
The ‘Dawn Pearl’ in Port Seton Harbour before 2006
John Bellany (1942–2013)
Oil on canvas
H 90 x W 90 cm
Scottish Maritime Museum
Fishing Boat 1964
John Bellany (1942–2013)
Oil on board
H 122 x W 152.6 cm
Dumfries and Galloway Council (Gracefield)
On the Clyde c.1830
James Francis Williams (1785–1846)
Oil on canvas
H 40 x W 62 cm
Scottish Maritime Museum
James More Horsburgh (1924–2007)
Oil on panel
H 52 x W 114.5 cm
Scottish Fisheries Museum
James More Horsburgh (1924–2007)
Oil on canvas on board
H 52 x W 114.5 cm
Scottish Fisheries Museum
The Fisher Lass c.1914
John McGhie (1867–1952)
Oil on canvas
H 100 x W 121.5 cm
Scottish Fisheries Museum
Boats on the Shore c.1963
Joan Kathleen Harding Eardley (1921–1963)
Oil on hardboard
H 101.6 x W 115.6 cm
National Galleries of Scotland
On the Fife Coast 1860–1878
Samuel Bough (1822–1878)
Oil on canvas
H 35 x W 45.4 cm
The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum
Off St Andrews 1856
Samuel Bough (1822–1878)
Oil on canvas
H 36.2 x W 45.8 cm
National Galleries of Scotland
Ben More from Martyrs Bay, Iona c.1925
Samuel John Peploe (1871–1935)
Oil on canvas
H 63.5 x W 76 cm
Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow
Scottish Mother and Child 2005
John Bellany (1942–2013)
Oil on canvas
H 119 x W 90 cm
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Skye Fisherman, in Memoriam 1989
Will Maclean (b.1941)
Oil & mixed media on board
H 129.5 x W 119.4 cm
Dundee Art Galleries and Museums Collection (Dundee City Council)
Northern Totem 1975
Will Maclean (b.1941)
Oil & mixed media on box construction
H 66 x W 50.5 cm
Dundee Art Galleries and Museums Collection (Dundee City Council)
Oiled Birds, Kingskettle late 20th C
Will Maclean (b.1941)
Acrylic on canvas
H 19.3 x W 19.3 cm
Maggie's Cheltenham
Will Maclean (b.1941)
Yellow pine, mdf board, acrylic glue, acrylic paint, acrylic filler paste
H 188 x W 126 x D 10 cm
Scottish Parliament Art Collection
Summer Sea 1962
Joan Kathleen Harding Eardley (1921–1963)
Oil & paper on board
H 122.2 x W 183 cm
Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture
Explore artists in this Curation
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Lilian Strang Neilson (1938–1998) -
Jean Rodger (b.1934) -
Janette Kerr (b.1957) -
John Muirhead (1863–1927) -
Morris Grassie (b.1931) -
John Bellany (1942–2013) -
Frances Walker (b.1930) -
Sylvia Wishart (1936–2008) -
John McGhie (1867–1952) -
Will Maclean (b.1941) -
James More Horsburgh (1924–2007) -
Alexander Young (1865–1923) -
Marian Leven (b.1944) -
Joyce W. Cairns (b.1947) -
Colin Hunter (1841–1904) -
Joseph Henderson (1832–1908) -
William Ferguson -
Samuel Bough (1822–1878) -
Joan Kathleen Harding Eardley (1921–1963) -
James S. Davis (b.1944) -
George Reid (1841–1913) -
Arthur James Wetherall Burgess (1879–1957) -
James Francis Williams (1785–1846) -
H. P. Stirling -
William McTaggart (1835–1910) -
Samuel John Peploe (1871–1935)
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