Andrew Restall at 90

An exhibition of recent paintings to celebrate Andrew Restall’s 90th birthday. He writes:

'Since my last exhibition in 2018 several factors have had a big influence on my work. Reduced mobility and eyesight have made me increasingly dependent on my ‘inner visions’. In addition, the virus lockdown has given me many days of quiet dependence on my own resources and together these have been in many ways a positive experience.

I have been enjoying the challenge of exploring and developing visual ideas that are independent of specific locations but still landscape based and free from verbal or descriptive references.

In my studio, though often filled with doubts, I am always optimistic.

I am grateful for the opportunity to share some of the results.'

Andrew Restall was born in Oxfordshire in 1931, the son of a professional typographer. He graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1954, where he later established the new School of Visual Communication.

In 1965 he was seconded to the Royal College of Art as Research Fellow in Stamp Design and alongside teaching, Restall worked from 1964 for the Post Office designing stamps and related philatelic material. He designed nine sets or part sets between 1964 and 1983. This took him into a different world, building on an existing interest in typography and printing processes. Two of his most notable contributions to stamp design were the Commonwealth Games issue of 1970 and the Sailing Stamps of 1975.

In 1983 he took up a post which gave him responsibility for the illustration option at Brighton College of Art.

Since retiring as Head of the School of Visual Communication at Edinburgh College of Art, he has concentrated on painting and printmaking including collagraphy; observing the changing landscapes around him in the Scottish Borders where he lives.