About Gordon Irving

Gordon Irving’s passion for painting has been his absolute lifeline. It has been the thread that has held him together through a life that has encompassed inner pain, conflict and turmoil. Also listening to John Lennon and Bob Dylan and re-discovering Leonard Cohen, while recovering from mild depression and anxiety - such exquisite miracles of artistic  genius have helped him survive his demons, and inspired him to become the successful painter he is today.

 

"I have painted all my life,and for over 5 years now I have painted every day. My easel is rarely empty. 

I grew up in Ayr in South Ayrshire,Scotland and later attended Newcastle College of Arts & Technology, although with regard to my artwork I am largely self-taught,” explains Gordon irving.

 

An honours graduate of the University of Glasgow, Gordon says,“Since I returned to live in Ayr a few years ago, I have painted intensively, mainly, though not exclusively portraits in oils, acrylics and pastels. I also paint landscapes, still life and surreal subjects.

 

My work has been exhibited in various venues including The Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine, two one-man shows; the Maclaurin Galleries, Rozelle, Ayr, and The Greenheart Gallery, Ayr."

 

“There are very few jobs I haven’t done,” says Gordon.“Having worked in electronics for several years, I served as a parish minister for over 10 years, then re-trained as a secondary school teacher. I came to realise that Art is where my heart is, hence my change of career path to become a Fine Artist.

 

“Over the past few years I have been invited as a practising artist into various local Ayrshire schools to teach in the Art Departments of Girvan Academy, Marr College, Troon, Kyle Academy, Ayr and Prestwick Academy.

 

“ I now have a studio/gallery of my own. It was offered to me on my successful application to WASPS, a national artist’s charity. The studio at Courtyard Studios, Irvine, is next to the Harbour Arts Centre. Having taken a lease break, I currently work from my home studio in Prestwick.

 

Reveals Gordon: “Over the last couple of years in Ayrshire I have sold portraits of Billy Connolly and Eddi Reader to collectors in Kilmarnock; Leonard Cohen to an Ayr buyer, and The Dalai Lama “The Art of Happiness” which sold at the Maclaurin Gallery to a Girvan collector.

 

“My work also sells regularly on the international market. A second portrait of Leonard Cohen sold to a buyer in Sydney, Australia and the same collector commissioned a portrait of Audrey Hepburn. Both paintings are now in their new home Down Under. A large portrait of Bob Dylan was purchased by a Canadian collector and now hangs in Quebec.

 

“One of my portraits of John Lennon was purchased by a lady in Massachusetts, U.S.A. and another portrait of Bob Dylan reserved by a Norwegian buyer. A portrait of Joni MItchell was bought by a Danish buyer.”