THE WEY GALLERY |  Craigie Aitchison CBE RA

One of Britain’s most popular and respected artists, Craigie was born John Ronald Craigie Aitchison in Edinburgh in 1926.  The son of Craigie Mason Aitchison KC, a brilliant lawyer and first socialist Lord Advocate for Scotland.

Craigie studied at the Slade School of Fine Art from 1952-54, after deciding not to follow his father’s footsteps into law (he had spent four years training for law, two in Edinburgh and two at the Middle Temple in London).  He became one of ‘six young contemporaries’ featured in an exhibition at Gimpel Fils Gallery and the following year was awarded a British Council Scholarship to study in Italy.  His early palette was muted and it was this visit that stimulated an interest in more vibrant colours.  In later years he was to buy and convert a farmhouse at Montecastelli, not far from Sienna.

After leaving  the Slade he returned to Scotland, but in 1963 moved to London where he taught at the Chelsea Art School from 1964-1984.

Craigie’s first one man show took place in 1959 at the Beaux Art Gallery in London.  As well as the Royal Academy, a major retrospective of his work was held at the Serpentine Gallery in 1981.   

In 1988 he was elected a member of the Royal Academy of Arts and was appointed CBE in 1999 for his contribution to British Art.

At first glance his Paintings can appear childlike, but it is precisely this quality of innocent spontaneity that admirers so loved in him.

Sadly Craigie passed away in December 2009 being described as ‘one of the outstanding colourists of the 20^th century’ – The Times

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum; Arts Council of Great Britain; British Council; Contemporary Art Society; De Beers Contemporary Art Collection; Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries; Grundy Art Gallery; Harewood House, Leeds; Jerwood Foundation; Lillie Art Gallery, Scotland; National Art Collections Fund; Newcastle Region Art Gallery, New South Wales, Australia; Newport Art Gallery; Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery; Robert Fleming Holdings; Royal Academy of Arts; Rugby Borough Council; Scottish Arts Council; Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art; South African National Gallery; Tate Gallery; University College, London; Truro Cathedral commission, Cornwall; University of Liverpool Art Gallery and Collections