acrylic on canvas, signed, titled and dated '17 verso
framed

Exhibition label verso: 1 - 15 September 2018, The Torrance Gallery, Edinburgh
Note: Artist and teacher, notably a draughtsman and painter of portraits, born in Sunninghill, Berkshire, brought up in the family home, Glenapp Castle, Ayrshire. Lady Mackay was the daughter of the 3rd Earl of Inchcape, chairman of the shipping line P&O who also ran Inchape PLC and was director of many other companies. Lucy Mackay was educated in Switzerland, Cambridge and at Edinburgh University and Edinburgh College of Art, 1960–5, under David Talbot Rice and William Gillies, graduating with a master’s honours degree in fine art. In 1973–4 she completed a postgraduate illustration studies year at the Central School of Art and Design. She settled in Edinburgh where she studied advanced botanic illustration at the Royal Botanic Garden, and where as a member of the Scottish Arts Club from 1983 she regularly attended life studies. Mackay began her extensive teaching career in 1966 as art assistant at Edinburgh Academy for Boys; from 1968–76 taught art, design and pottery at schools in the London area; then again in Edinburgh at the Salisbury Centre, 1981–2. In 1999 she joined the register of Angus County’s artists-in-residence for primary schools, serving at several schools. After winning first prize in a portrait painting competition run by the magazine Nursery World, 1953, and exhibiting a prize painting in the Daily Mail competition to celebrate the opening of the Forth Road Bridge, 1964, Mackay took part in many group shows, including the RSA. Among later solo exhibitions were The Italian Institute, Edinburgh, 1991; Torrance Gallery, Edinburgh, 1995, 1998 and 2005; and The Forum, Ocean Terminal, Leith, in aid of the Bethany Trust, 2004. She travelled extensively in several continents with paints and sketch-book. As well as a series of self-portraits Mackay completed many portraits, including Ronald Fletcher, broadcaster, 1968; the Queen’s Counsel Lionel Daiches, 1979–80; singer Ian Caddy, 1980–1; Professor David Daiches with his brother Lionel, 1988–9; the composer and conductor Emre Araci, 1997; and cellist Harriet Johnson, 2000. Her work was held by collections including the Scottish National Portrait Gallery; London College of Music; Royal Over-Seas League; Scottish Arts Club; Barlinnie Prison; and Geffrye Museum.