"I chose this piece by Joan Eardley because I love sketchbooks. In particular, I love to see how Eardley, with a few painterly marks, is able to capture the boats in the harbour. Normally I walk, take photos and then paint with a raft of materials in the studio. But this time, I wanted to emulate Eardley’s approach of painting outside. I’ve tried to achieve the expressive mark making with a more limited palette demonstrated so beautifully by Joan Eardley." Ann Cowan
Ann Cowan RSW - Biography
My work focuses on architecture and the urban environment. I spend a lot of time drawing on location. I look for strong architectural shapes and compositions and take inspiration from my home city of Edinburgh as well as the East Lothian coastline. The larger paintings develop from ideas in my sketchbooks and are built up over time with layers of collage, acrylic paint and ink. The smaller pieces are often taken directly from my sketchbooks. I find the process of arranging papers and surfaces combined with painting and drawing very liberating and it drives the direction of my work.
Born in 1974, I studied law at Edinburgh University and qualified as a solicitor in 2000. I worked in private practice for nine years before taking a break to start a family. Instead of returning to the legal profession, I decided to pursue my interest in art and from 2011 I studied three short courses at Edinburgh College of Art covering landscape, cityscape and mixed media. Since then, I have worked full time as an artist and have exhibited in a range of group exhibitions and have had two solo shows at The Open Eye Gallery in Edinburgh.
EXHIBITIONS
2020
"Dunbar Sketchbooks" at Fidra Fine Art
"Edinburgh" exhibition at the Morningside Gallery
Smithy Gallery, 2020
2019
Fidra Fine Art Summer Show, Gullane
The Atelier Gallery, Edinburgh
Fidra Fine Art, Architectural Landscapes, Gullane
The Morningside Gallery, Edinburgh
2018
Solo Exhibition, Open Eye Gallery
Morningside Gallery
Mixed exhibition MacMillan Art Show
St. Columba’s Hospice Art Exhibition
2017
Edinburgh Art Fair
MacMillan Art Show
Fidra Fine Art, Mixed Exhibition
Open Eye Gallery, Christmas exhibition
2016
Solo exhibition, Open Eye Gallery
2015
Glasgow Contemporary Art Fair
St.Columba's Hospice Art Exhibition
MacMillan Art Show
Open Eye Gallery Christmas Exhibition
2014
Mixed Exhibition, Gallery Ten
St.Columba's Hospice Art Exhibition
Open Eye Gallery Christmas Exhibition
Edinburgh Art Fair
2013
RSW Annual Open Exhibition
VAS Annual Open Exhibition
Mixed Exhibition, Strathearn Gallery
RSA Annual Open Exhibition
Open Eye Gallery Christmas Exhibition
2012
RSA Annual Open Exhibition
