George Birrell
George Birrell was born in Glasgow in 1949. He trained at the Glasgow School of Art (1967 - 1971) and was involved with the Hospitalfield Summer School in 1970. He was tutored by Leon Morrocco, Alexander Goudie, David Abercrombie Donaldson and William Crosbie. After leaving art school George taught art and design in Scottish schools for the next decade, starting painting full time in 1980. George returned to lecturing in art, design and photography from 1985 - 1998. Since then he has exhibited local and abroad.
George Birrell produces architectural paintings and landscape paintings mostly focussed around Scotland’s east coast towns and villages, particularly those in Fife where the fishing villages are both full of character, tradition and hold special fascination. He also uses Scottish castles as subject matter because of their identity and proud traditional structures. One is immediately struck by the bold use of strong colour and tones as well as the evocative use of composition. He describes this as an emotional response to memories and atmosphere of these special places on the Scottish east coast. Vigorous handling of colour, a bold palette and strong design are all hallmarks of his painting. Speaking about his paintings Birrell says: 'I paint neither on the spot nor from photographs, but improvise the remembered essentials of a place, in the comfort of my art studio. Harbours and their bric-a-brac attract me, as do mills and castles. Texture, colour and pattern are what I use to evoke feel-good locations.' Beyond Scotland, he enjoys painting in the pastoral landscape of Provence and coastline of the Mediterranean region around Marseilles.
He settled and established a studio in Kingskettle for a number of years. He presently works from a studio in coastal East Lothian. When not painting or travelling he aspires to be a mean guitarist, performing with a small jazz ensemble.
George Birrell produces architectural paintings and landscape paintings mostly focussed around Scotland’s east coast towns and villages, particularly those in Fife where the fishing villages are both full of character, tradition and hold special fascination. He also uses Scottish castles as subject matter because of their identity and proud traditional structures. One is immediately struck by the bold use of strong colour and tones as well as the evocative use of composition. He describes this as an emotional response to memories and atmosphere of these special places on the Scottish east coast. Vigorous handling of colour, a bold palette and strong design are all hallmarks of his painting. Speaking about his paintings Birrell says: 'I paint neither on the spot nor from photographs, but improvise the remembered essentials of a place, in the comfort of my art studio. Harbours and their bric-a-brac attract me, as do mills and castles. Texture, colour and pattern are what I use to evoke feel-good locations.' Beyond Scotland, he enjoys painting in the pastoral landscape of Provence and coastline of the Mediterranean region around Marseilles.
He settled and established a studio in Kingskettle for a number of years. He presently works from a studio in coastal East Lothian. When not painting or travelling he aspires to be a mean guitarist, performing with a small jazz ensemble.