Real Lives: John will be remembered for contribution to cultural life

Published on Wednesday 1 October 2008 09:49

POPULAR Scottish landscape artist John Houston has died aged 78.

EDINBURGH artist John Houston was best known for his dramatic, expressionistic landscapes.

Mr Houston was born in Buckhaven, Fife in 1930, and studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 1948 to 1954.

It was at art school he met his wife, fellow artist Elizabeth Blackadder. The couple were married in 1956.

Mr Houston contributed much to Scottish art, both through is own work and as a teacher at Edinburgh College of Art for more than three decades. The painter joined the college staff in 1956 and rose to become deputy head of the school of drawing and painting until his retirement in 1989.

In 1957, he helped start the 57 Gallery, Edinburgh, and exhibited there in his first solo show in 1958.

He travelled widely and exhibited throughout the world. Edinburgh was their home, but together Mr Houston and Ms Blackadder travelled extensively.

Ms Blackadder said: "We were together and working together for so long. It has been a great life for me and hopefully for John. We were able to travel quite a bit."

Despite influences from around the globe, more often than not Mr Houston found his inspiration in the sea around the East Lothian coast and gradually evolved his own unique style.

His land and seascape paintings were a highlight of the annual exhibitions of the Royal Scottish Academy and of the artist's many exhibitions in Edinburgh, London and internationally.

Mr Houston was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 1972 and awarded an OBE in 1990.

His portrait of Sir Alexander Gibson is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

Other works can be seen at the National Gallery of Scotland and City Art Centre in Edinburgh, as well as the Aberdeen Art Gallery, Hunterian Gallery in Glasgow, Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery, McManus Gallery in Dundee, and the Perth Museum and Art Gallery.

Philip Long, senior curator at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, paid tribute to Mr Houston.

He said: "He will be remembered and greatly missed as one of the most original interpreters of the Scottish landscape of the 20th century, as well as for his modesty and gentle charm.

"He contributed greatly to Scottish art and cultural life for over 50 years, through his own work and his long commitment as a teacher to several generations of students at Edinburgh College of Art."

Mr Houston died peacefully last Saturday.

His funeral is to be held on Saturday, October 4, at 11.30am at Mortonhall Crematorium Main Chapel.