Showing at Bonhoga from 18 November until 24 December, the final show of 2017 celebrates the long and illustrious career of Shetlander Maxie Bain.
After growing up in Shetland, Maxie left for Aberdeen to study at Gray’s School of Art. By the time he left Gray’s in the mid 1960s, he was already known in Scotland as an aspiring portrait painter.
In 1975 Maxie moved to England to work on a graphic design course at Salisbury College of Art, but continued to involve himself in portrait painting. He exhibited with the Royal Portrait Society in the Mall Galleries and at the National Portrait Gallery, London, as well as the Royal West of England Academy in Bristol.
As the graphic design course grew and developed, Maxie found himself in charge of its illustration content, but also worked on packaging design, typography and promotional design. This love of drawing and illustration found its way into his own work, resulting in the kind of detailed imagery for which he is best known in Shetland.
After 40 years in the south of England Maxie returned to live in Shetland in 2015 and this is his first show in Shetland since then.
Shetland Arts Exhibition Manager Jane Matthews explains, “It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to show a range of Maxie’s work; not just his well-known watercolours but also pencil and oil work including large portraits, which have never been exhibited in Shetland. It’s a retrospective of sorts and a great opportunity to acquire new work from such a prolific local artist”.
Running concurrently in the Lower Gallery is an exhibition of copper plate prints by Glasgow-based artist Louise Scott. Her exquisite work draws on the natural world, illustrated with great attention to detail and in her own unique style.
In the craft cabinets and shop area there is a wide selection of contemporary applied art and craft available to buy, from some of Shetland and the UK’s finest artists and designers, including lighting, jewellery, textiles, ceramics and prints.
The exhibition runs at Bonhoga Gallery from Saturday 18 November to Sunday 24 December.
The exhibition opening will take place on Friday 17 November from 6-7.30pm. Refreshments will be provided and everyone is welcome.
