graham mckean
5th August - 27th September

Graham McKean began his working life in Glasgow’s Govan shipyards, but in 1979 he took his first step towards a more creative career, as a graphic artist specialising in silk screen designs. It was not until 1996, after several posts as a graphic artist, that McKean made the bold decision to commit himself totally to painting.

Since that decision, McKean’s work has gone from strength to strength, and his paintings are now widely collected. His career has been followed closely by the local and national media, culminating in the massive exposure he received upon being appointed the official artist for Scottish Opera in 2002 – an accolade only ever before bestowed on Peter Howson. Reproductions of the lively paintings McKean produced for Scottish Opera, describing every aspect of the company’s work, can be seen outside the Theatre Royal today.

Stylistically inspired by the work of Sir Stanley Spencer, McKean uses bright colours, humour and iconic images to explore the day to day experiences of us all. His paintings encapsulate the emotion of a single moment in time, but transcend mere description in the evocative scenes he conjures up.