* ARCHIE FORREST RGI (SCOTTISH b. 1950), SYMPHONY

oil on canvas, signed, titled label verso framed image size 121cm x 136cm, overall size 136cm x 152cm Exhibition label verso: December 1991, The Portland Gallery, London Note: Archie Forrest is considered to be the leading living Scottish Colourist artist of his generation. Born in Glasgow in 1950 he attended Glasgow School of art between 1969 and 1973 prior to becoming a tutor at the school for seven years. Forrest gave up teaching in 1985 to devote his time to being a full time artist. He was elected a member of the Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts in 1988 and is a regular exhibitor at the Royal Scottish Academy since 1975. The artist has won many prizes and collectors for his work throughout the world. In this "Symphony" Forrest demonstrates his ability to create texture and colour whilst capturing the viewers’ attention with his playful use of perspective and reflection. Forrest’s use of broad and angular marks is reminiscent of Cezanne, while the use of colour place him in the legacy of Scottish Colourists S J Peploe and Cadell. The artist uses his self-portrait to guide us through a variety of his work. Challenging the viewer to look closer for the still life, landscape and portraiture within the picture whilst creating reference to the great Scottish colourists Cadell and J D Fergusson in the portraits on his studio floor. Forrest has created a painting which demonstrates his artistic ability, but also one the viewer can revisit over and over again.