Gary works on lost scenes from Edinburgh within context of his ancestors.
Gary Anderson is a Scottish artist whose work captures the essence of landscapes and urban environments through a deliberately rapid, expressive approach. Born in Edinburgh and now based in the Scottish Borders, he has developed a distinctive artistic voice that transforms fleeting visual impressions into compelling paintings and drawings.
Artistic Evolution
Gary's creative path has been nonlinear and explorative. After years of moving between cartoons, comics, and photography, he returned to painting in 2009, eventually pursuing formal education at Edinburgh College of Art. He completed a BA Honours in Painting in 2019 and an MFA in Illustration in 2021, experiences that helped refine his technical abilities while preserving his spontaneous approach to image-making.
Gary Anderson's Creative Philosophy
Central to Gary's artistic vision is the belief that art should be "quick, expressive, immediate, hurried." Rather than creating detailed, observational works, he captures what he describes as "a remembered glance"-visual memories of scenes glimpsed in passing. This approach produces work with remarkable energy and emotional resonance, inviting viewers to pause and engage deeply with compositions that were themselves created in moments of creative urgency.
Influences and Technique
Gary draws inspiration from Expressionism and early 20th century painting, printmaking, and illustration traditions, particularly in his approach to composition and color. Working predominantly in oils and gouache for painting, and charcoal and conté for drawing, he develops semi-abstract works with illustrative elements that suggest rather than meticulously represent their subjects.
Thematic Focus
While landscape forms a significant focus of Gary's work, his practice often incorporates narrative elements that explore personal and cultural history. In recent years, he has created works that examine lost scenes from Edinburgh within the context of his ancestors and family members who lived in now-forgotten areas of the city. His subjects frequently explore boundaries-where countryside meets village, town, and city-and the various intrusions that fragment these landscapes.
Professional Recognition of Gary Anderson
Gary's distinctive approach has earned him several notable residencies and awards, including the Lyon and Turnbull Graduate Award and Residency (2019), an Artist Residency on Eigg through The Bothy Project (2020), and an Artist Residency and Commission at Marchmont House (2021). In 2023, he participated in a Sailing Residency around the Hebrides with artist Andrew Mackenzie. His work has been exhibited widely, including at the Royal Scottish Academy, Visual Arts Scotland Centenary Show, Scottish Portrait Awards, and numerous galleries throughout Scotland and beyond.