All artists see the world in their own particular way, and Andrew Gilchrist is no exception. His paintings are characterised by the use of his own version of stippling: little lozenges of colour that together create beautiful images of flowers, trees, water, pantiled roofs and even fishing nets. Andrew has been painting all his life, and like any artist he uses art to help him interpret the world: Andrew is also on the autistic spectrum, so for him painting is an even more important means of communication. This month The Gallery on the Corner, in collaboration with Art In Healthcare, is exhibiting a collection of Andrew’s fascinating work.
Andrew’s paintings frequently feature water, as is evidenced in his two studies Rock Garden and The Pond, both inspired by the Botanic Garden, and his larger paintings of Anstruther and Crail harbours and of the Isle of Seil. The Pond in particular gives a feeling of calm and purity with its reflections of trees in still water, whilst Rock Garden shows a tumbling white waterfall surrounded by the yellows, pinks and greens of abundant plant life and the grey of small stones. By contrast the harbour pictures are full of colourful boats and waterside houses; the stippling effect is used here on fishing nets laid out to dry – the vivid oranges and greens of the nets on the side at Anstruther remind one of a dragon relaxing in the sun. Meanwhile The Isle of Seil shows tiny white houses dwarfed by the brown and green cliffs. In the bay a small boat lies still, and on the quayside a solitary figure turns away from us and looks out beyond the headland.
The theme of departure – on boats, into the hills – is taken up again in Groudle Glen, Isle of Man which shows a sunlight-dappled walkway leading through the green foliage. In Man in the Forest, my favourite painting, a figure walks away from us through a darker autumnal scene of browns and greys; fallen leaves cover the ground. Who is this person and where is he going? In all of Andrew’s paintings the use of light is especially striking, from the sunny days of Anstruther Harbour and Culross Palace and The Forth to the brooding dusk of Man in the Forest.
The Waterwheel, Groudle Glen returns to more exuberant colours; the red wheel sits beside a pagoda-style building, both surrounded by pink, white and green flowers and ferns.
This lovely exhibition is open 11am-5pm, Tuesday to Saturday until 30th August 2014 at The Gallery on the Corner, Northumberland Street, EH3 6LS. All of the paintings in this exhibition are for sale: proceeds will be split between The Gallery on the Corner, Art in Healthcare and Andrew himself, who will use his share to buy more art supplies.
The Gallery is also currently showing impressive, ethereal acrylics by Keith Ross, Below Ben Ross and Newton Ross, the stunning Firefly by Paul Marshall and wonderful psychedelic paintings and colourful collages by Seonaidh Jaques.
