Peter Quinn paints with flair and vigour
Quinn in Malta: Peter Quinn RWS which is introduced and edited by Peter Apap Bologna will be launched this coming Saturday. Sadly this is his last book for he left us recently. Here is Peter’s Foreword:
“This book is about the life and work of the Scottish painter Peter Quinn, with particular regard to his paintings of Malta. Peter is now one of the most admired painters of the Maltese scene, and his reputation continues to grow. Peter arrived at the Melitensia Art Gallery in the late 1990s. He was introduced to us by George Large, who had admired his work at an R I exhibition.
He arrived bearing a portfolio of striking paintings of Malta in watercolours and other media. Alaine and I were immediately captivated, and offered a oneman show. This duly happened in 1997, and was a huge success. We followed soon after with an exhibition organized by us at the Hahn Gallery in London, as Peter was also a prolific painter of London.
Peter and Josiette met in Glasgow in 1979. Josiette DeBono is Maltese, from Birzebbugia where her parents Mario and Alfreda owned the Britannia Pharmacy in Pretty Bay. She had started on the medical course at the University of Malta during a time of political turbulence, and when the doctors went on strike the course was suspended. Going abroad was the only way forward, and Glasgow was chosen. Then she graduated MBChB in 1984. A year after they met, Peter was introduced as “the new boyfriend”. They were married in Malta in 1984.
In 2005, we moved to Sliema, to a flat in Don Bosco Street, across the road from St Patrick’s Salesian School for boys with difficulties. We got to know and like the Salesian community and the great work they did. We became particularly good friends with Fr Charles Cini, whose main preoccupation was raising money badly needed o keep the school running smoothly. We suggested an exhibition of Peter Quinn’s
paintings. This took place at the Radisson St Georges in November 2007. It was a huge
success, and encouraged us to organize several exhibitions in aid of this school over the coming years.