Works by acclaimed Scot donated to people of Angus

[rekha2010]

TWO paintings by acclaimed Scottish artist William Littlejohn have been donated to the people of Angus, it was announced yesterday.

Still Life and Harbour, which was painted in 1964, was given to Arbroath High School – where Littlejohn taught during the early stages of his career.

Windmill and Screen, which was painted in 1988 and is to be permanently housed at Arbroath, was presented to Angus Council. The gifts were made by Colin Greenslade, programme director of the Royal Scottish Academy, during an event at Arbroath Library Gallery.

The gallery is currently hosting a major retrospective of the artist, who died in 2006.

Mr Greenslade said: “In 2006, William Littlejohn bequeathed his studio to the Royal Scottish Academy.

“In addition, a separate sum of money was also bequeathed to establish a new watercolour award – The RSA William Littlejohn Bequest Watercolour Award which is now administered and disbursed by the RSA to Scottish artists working in watercolour.

“In response to Bill’s kind gift, the RSA are now in the process of distributing gifts of prominent works by Bill to prominent Scottish art collections and we are pleased to announce these gifts to Arbroath.”

Littlejohn was born in Arbroath in 1929 and studied fine art at Dundee College of Art. He taught at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen and went on to become head of fine art before retiring in 1991.

He was also a member of the Royal Scottish Academy, the Royal Glasgow Institute and the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour and his paintings can be seen at the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art, Aberdeen University and in the Queen’s private collection.

On his death, he left the entire contents of his studio, which includes oils, watercolours, drawings and some of his sketch-books, to the Royal Scottish Academy.

Arbroath councillor Jim Millar said: “We are delighted and honoured to receive this gift from the RSA and pleased that this prestigious work, Windmill and Screen will be on permanent display in the artist’s home town for all to see and admire.”