About the Artist

Alice McMurrough

In my artwork, I create connections. I use distortion, metaphor and symbolism in a context free from chronological time and precise place. I intertwine memories of personal events with contemporary issues, family legends, cultural myths and religious fables.

Objects, colour and scale are employed for symbolic reasons. I aim for an attention that children have for the world, before ritual and maturity strips life of its daily magic.

The resulting images display theatrical characters on stage-like sets, inviting open narratives and subjective interpretations. They help me make sense of the world.

Training

1973-1977     Glasgow School of Art- DA

1977-1978     Glasgow School of Art- Post Graduate Studies- Commended

1978-1979     St Andrews College of Education- Diploma of Education

Awards

2022               Awarded 2^nd Prize, Aberdeen Artists Society

2018               IFAC Award, Paisley Art Institute

2016               Short listed: W Gordon Smith Award, Edinburgh

2015               Edinburgh Art Shop Award, Royal Scottish Academy

2014               The Bessie Scott Award, Paisley Art Institute

2013               Elected RSW

2013               Dalrymple Award, Inaugural Maclaurin Annual Exhibition, Ayr

2013               Elected RGI

2013               Elected PAI

2012               Anne Stevenson Memorial Award, East Dunbartonshire Council

2012               Joe Hargan Award, Paisley Art Institute

2011               James Torrance Award, Royal Glasgow Institute

2010               Glasgow Art Club Fellowship Award, Paisley Art Institute

2008               Art Hire Prize, Paisley Art Institute

2007               East Dunbartonshire Council Purchase Prize

2002               D.Muirhead Purchase Prize, Royal Scottish Academy

1978               D.Sommerville Award Glasgow, School of Art

1977               Awarded Post Graduate Studies, Glasgow School of Art

Regular exhibitor in RSA, RSW, PAI and RGI Annual Exhibitions.

Work in Royal Scottish Academy and East Dunbartonshire Council collections and private collections in Scotland, England, Italy, Spain and USA.

After teaching Art and Design for 30 years I left the profession in 2007 to enable me to concentrate on my own artwork. In 2013, I was awarded Diplomate member in Paisley Art Institute also The Royal Glasgow Institute and The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour. Recently I have joined Glasgow Print Studio and am enjoying the challenges of etching. Since the 1990s I organise, with my husband Neil Macdonald, Painting Holidays in Scotland, Spain, Italy and France.