Douglas Davies RSW

Douglas Davies is a painter living in the Scottish Borders. He was born in Edinburgh and graduated in Ceramics and Glass from Edinburgh College of Art in 1970, followed by postgraduate study and teacher training. He was Lecturer in Ceramics at Glasgow School of Art until 1986. He continued making pottery and painting until 2000 when he turned solely to painting as his chosen medium. In the same year he was elected member of Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour (RSW).

The Scottish Borders where he has lived for over forty years is a constant inspiration for Douglas, whatever the season, providing many views, even from his garden. Always challenging, different shapes, changing skies, and that all important quality of light dawn to dusk, and throughout the seasons. Frequent visits to Catalonia, south west France and the north of Spain, also stimulate and encourage Douglas to get out his sketch book in a vineyard, olive grove or the brilliant blue Mediterranean.

“The sketchbooks give me the information for the ‘start’ of a painting and from one sketch can come several paintings or from several sketches only one painting. The translation from sketch to painting allows for experimentation and development with colour, line and form which can lead to an element of risk or edge to creep in thus eliminating some of the often irrelevant information contained in an ‘on the spot’ sketch.
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To embark on a days painting with a large sheet of paper, bristling brushes and good light, is always an exciting prospect if not a slightly apprehensive one as the end result could end up in the bin or with luck, in a frame. The ‘don’t know’ element ‘the sleeping surprise’ (as Robin Philipson called it) is always there, the trick is to recognise it.”