James Fairgrieve RSA RSW : A Journey: A Retrospective Exhibition

Works
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, 3 Gourds , 2017
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, 3 Gourds , 2017
    £ 2,600.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Alone
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Alone
    £ 1,200.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Big Brown Rising , 1995
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Big Brown Rising , 1995
    £ 3,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Big Rainbow , 1993
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Big Rainbow , 1993
    £ 3,600.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Big Red Pepper , 2017
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Big Red Pepper , 2017
    £ 1,200.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Big Turnip, 2019
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Big Turnip, 2019
    £ 1,200.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Bird and Bone , 1974
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Bird and Bone , 1974
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Boxed Eggs and Feather , 2010
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Boxed Eggs and Feather , 2010
    £ 2,400.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Boxed Gourd and Feathers
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Boxed Onion , 2010
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Boxed Onion , 2010
    £ 1,995.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Brown Hill , 1980
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Brown Hill , 1980
    £ 4,400.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Chaffinch , 1984
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Chaffinch , 1984
    £ 1,300.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Claw and Mussels , 1975
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Claw and Mussels , 1975
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Cow and Pylon , 1980
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Cow and Pylon , 1980
    £ 2,200.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Cruising Brown , 1994
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Cruising Brown , 1994
    £ 1,000.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Cruising Rainbow , 1994
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Cruising Rainbow , 1994
    £ 850.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Curlew , 1984
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Curlew , 1984
    £ 1,000.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Dod's Shed , 1983
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Dod's Shed , 1983
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Edenside Winter Wood , 1987
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Edenside Winter Wood , 1987
    £ 4,400.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Breeze Garden , 1987
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Breeze Garden , 1987
    £ 8,000.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Feed , 1988
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Feed , 1988
    £ 7,000.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Fence , 1978
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Fence , 1978
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening House , 1989
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening House , 1989
    £ 4,200.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Light , 1987
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Rock , 1978
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Rock , 1978
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Rock , 1978
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Rock , 1978
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Shed , 1978
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Shed , 1978
    £ 4,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Shed , 1978
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Shed , 1978
    £ 4,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Trout , 1974
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Evening Trout , 1974
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Floating By , 2010
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Floating By , 2010
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Flying By , 1978
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Flying By , 1978
    £ 7,000.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Flying By , 1978
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Flying By , 1978
    £ 7,000.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Flying By , 1978
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Flying By , 1978
    £ 7,000.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Flying Past , 1980
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Flying Past , 1980
    £ 3,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Garden Still Life , 1996
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Golden Ball , 2018
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Golden Ball , 2018
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Guards , 2019
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Guards , 2019
    £ 1,200.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Haggis Supper , 2013
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Haggis Supper , 2013
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Heron , 1978
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Heron , 1978
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Heron , 1978
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Heron , 1978
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Hide , 1982
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Hide , 1982
    £ 4,900.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Hide , 1982
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Hide , 1982
    £ 4,900.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, In the Shed , 1989
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, In the Shed , 1989
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, In the Shed , 1989
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, In the Shed , 1989
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jay , 1984
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jay , 1984
    £ 1,700.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jay , 1984
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jay , 1984
    £ 1,700.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jetsam Altar , 2009
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jetsam Altar , 2009
    Sold
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jetsam Altar , 2009
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jetsam Altar , 2009
    Sold
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jetsam Altar , 2009
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jetsam Altar , 2009
    Sold
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jetsam Altar , 2009
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jetsam Altar , 2009
    Sold
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jetsam Altar , 2009
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Jetsam Altar , 2009
    Sold
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Leek , 2007
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Leek , 2007
    £ 2,095.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Little White Gate , 1983
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Little White Gate , 1983
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Little White Gate, Study , 1983
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Little White Gate, Study , 1983
    £ 1,000.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Lost Cow , 1983
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Lost Cow , 1983
    £ 2,000.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Melted Snow , 1977
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Melted Snow , 1977
    £ 2,800.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Night Pheasant , 1977
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Night Pheasant , 1977
    £ 2,200.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Pheasant , 1973
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Pheasant , 1973
    £ 4,100.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Pheasant and Mirror
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Pheasant and Mirror
    £ 6,500.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Ram's Skull , 1975
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Ram's Skull , 1975
    £ 1,995.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Reclining Gourd , 2019
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Reclining Gourd , 2019
    £ 1,995.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Rising Rainbow , 1994
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Rising Rainbow , 1994
    £ 1,000.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Sheep's Skull , 1975
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Sheep's Skull , 1975
    £ 1,995.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Show Onion , 2014
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Show Onion , 2014
    £ 1,200.00
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Siccar Stones , 2008
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Siccar Stones , 2008
    Sold
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Socially Distant Apples , 2020
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Socially Distant Apples , 2020
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Socially Distant Eggs
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Socially Distant Eggs
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Socially Distant Peppers , 2020
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Socially Distant Peppers , 2020
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Spiky Shell , 1975
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Still Life for Chris , 1998
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Still Life for Chris , 1998
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Still Life with Eilidh's Stick , 2010
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Still Life with Paper Plane , 2006
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Still Life with Paper Plane , 2006
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Stone and Feathers , 2010
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Stone and Feathers , 2010
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Summer Hide
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Summer Hide
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Summer Smoke , 1973
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Summer Smoke , 1973
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Threatening Sky , 1987
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Threatening Sky , 1987
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Two Feathers , 1983
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Waiting Cow , 1988
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Waiting Cow , 1988
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Wash Day , 1976
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Wash Day , 1976
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Curlew , 1980
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Curlew , 1980
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Dye Morning , 1983
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Dye Morning , 1983
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Gull , 1977
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Gull , 1977
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Hill and Crow , 1977
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Hill and Crow , 1977
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Hills , 1977
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Hills , 1977
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Landscape with Cow , 1983
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Landscape with Cow , 1983
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Oystercatcher , 1981
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Oystercatcher , 1981
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Sheep , 1984
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Sheep , 1984
  • James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Walk , 1987
    James Fairgrieve RSA RSW, Winter Walk , 1987
Overview

Celebrating James Fairgrieve's extensive career, this large-scale exhibition represents a selection of work from his studio, reflecting a physical and artistic journey spanning around 50 years.

One of the most established and influential still-life painters of his generation, this exhibition will include a large body of his distinctive still lifes, inspired by the fruit and vegetables from his productive garden, and the collected objects from the coastline and woodland around his home in Gordon, alongside a collection of his early landscape and rural paintings dating back to the 1970s, celebrating the countryside vistas and environment of his Berwickshire home.

 

James H. Fairgrieve was born in Prestonpans, East Lothian in 1944. He attended Edinburgh College of Art from 1962-67 and was awarded a travelling Scholarship to Italy. On his return he was offered a teaching post at ECA where he remained until taking early retirement as a Senior Lecturer in Drawing and Painting in 2003. In 1975 he was elected as an associate member of the Royal Scottish Academy.

Between 1974 and 1978 he was President of the Society of Scottish Artists and in 2004 was elected a full member of the RSA.

In 1970 James Fairgrieve moved from East Lothian where he was born and grew up, to the village of Gordon in Berwickshire. Nestling between the Lammermuir Hills and the Cheviots, overlooking the lower Tweed, there was also easy access to the Berwickshire coast and its beaches.

Finding a run-down cottage in the heart of the village, which, with his wife Margaret, he spent the next 8 years transforming into a comfortable home and attic studio, whilst also producing a large body of work inspired by his new surroundings and inspired by his travels through the hills and landscapes whilst commuting to work at ECA.

The resulting work is a reaction to, and celebration of, this environment - the hills, fields, skies, dykes, fence posts, farm buildings, animals, birds (with the inevitable road kills), stones, shells, flotsam from the beaches, the changing seasons, weather conditions and light, led to a number of solo exhibitions: notably at The Scottish Gallery in 1974 and 1978, and the Mercury Gallery in London and Edinburgh in 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1987, and many more galleries in the UK and abroad.

 

In 1978, with another two children and requiring more space, the opportunity to arose to purchase a disused 1930s hospital building on the outskirts of the village. They took the challenge of converting it into a family home, a larger studio, and a productive garden, which eventually would provide a new stimulus for his work - fruit, vegetables and found objects, which continues to inspire Fairgrieve to this day.

As an artist, he has always been inspired by what he sees in the world around him, and through acute observation, attention to detail, and traditional painting skills, he attempts to create memorable images of stillness and calm. His distinctive still-lives use objects collected over the years, often combined with fruit and vegetable from his garden, are crafted with acute observation and attention to detail, conveying a Zen-like sense of balance, poise and calm.

A great admirer of the work of Giorgio Morandi, Adriaen Coorte, Juan Sanchez Cotan, and other artists who are able to express so much in an understated and economical way, his interest moved gradually over time, away from the wide open spaces of landscape to the more intimate study of objects collected from these landscapes, and nearby beaches: feathers; leaves; stones; shells; weathered wood and jetsam, all washed up by the sea. This presented an opportunity to study at close quarters these collected objects, the spaces around and between them, the light on them, their textures and the way in which simple, everyday objects can be transformed into images which subtly comment on human behaviour.

 

Fairgrieve's other passion is fly fishing, for which he has been 'capped' by Scotland in International Competition on a record number of occasions. He is Chairman of the Gordon Community Woodland where he walks everyday with his wife and their dog, Tweed.

As an artist he has become one of the most established and influential Still-life painters of his generation, winning numerous awards. His work can be found in many major public and private collections in the UK and abroad.

He has exhibited regularly in Edinburgh, London and internationally since 1969.

Publications include 'Eye in the Wind', E Gage; 'Scottish Watercolour Paintings', J Firth; 'A Picture of Flemings', B Smith; 'Who's Who in Art', Debretts; 'People of Today', Scottish Field; 'Dictionary of International Biography'; and 'The Artist Magazine-Masterclass'.