John Lowrie Morrison OBE

John Lowrie Morrison OBE, Scotland’s best-loved artist and known for signing his paintings as ‘Jolomo,’ opens a new solo exhibition at The Strathearn Gallery this September entitled ‘Croftscapes & Flowers’

So often for an artist, many of the influences shaping their work come from early or childhood experiences. It was one such experience for internationally renowned artist John Lowrie Morrison OBE that went on to shape over five decades of painting.

Growing up in 1950s Glasgow in a tenement house, it was following a first visit to the family croft on the Isle of Harris that began Morrison’s lifelong obsession with croft houses. “Every time I see a croft, I’ve got to paint it, even if it’s just a gable end. I think crofts are in my psyche.”

Indeed, it is this fascination with painting croft houses, in his trademark bold, colourful and atmospheric style that has made Morrison one of Scotland’s most recognisable and best-known artists working today.

He even has his own term for these houses: “I’ve painted them so often that I coined the word “Croftscapes’ a number of years ago, especially for groups of croft houses.”

And it is such ‘Croftscapes’ that form part of the body of new paintings for his forthcoming solo exhibition at The Strathearn Gallery in Crieff, a gallery Morrison has been working with for over 20 years.

While flowers, in particular wildflowers, are very much part of Morrison’s traditional landscape paintings, the ‘Flowers’ part of his forthcoming exhibition will also feature more prominently his lesser seen, but highly desirable, still life works.

“I’ m also a bit obsessed with flowers as I continue to paint Wild Angelica and other wild flowers that are growing in various Crofts .”

“I do love painting flowers in a vase though ,” Morrison says. “That probably goes back to my‘ Still Life’ background in Hyndland Secondary and Glasgow School of Art !”

No matter what the subject, Morrison’s paintings exude drama and passion – capturing the eye, the heart and the imagination and it is this which makes them so enjoyed and sought after.

Art lovers from all over Scotland and beyond are expected to flock to see ‘Croftscapes and Flowers’ featuring 60 new paintings from John Lowrie Morrison OBE and opening 11am 21st September 2019.

Exhibition runs until 20th October 2019 and all works can be viewed on The Strathearn Gallery website.

Meet the Artist:

If you would like the opportunity to meet John, he will be visiting the gallery on Saturday 21st September between 11.30am - 1.30pm

Gallery hours: Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 12pm -4pm

The Strathearn Gallery 32 West High Street Crieff, Perthshire, PH7 4DL, Scotland T: (01764) 656100 E: info@strathearn-gallery.com