Beach Party, Barbados

James Harrigan studied Painting and Printmaking at Glasgow School of Art between 1956 and 1961. He taught art for many years and many of his students have developed successful careers as artists. James lives in Ayr.

His main inspiration is the Scottish landscape and coastline but also paints scenes from his travels around the world. In particular the West Indies and Brazil. He works primarily in oils, and his application of the paint is both expressive and considered, bringing to life everyday scenes of fields and gardens or boats and villages. Building his paintings up in loose, expressive layers of oils allows James to add a dynamism to his scenes as if they are playing out before the viewer’s eyes, using the texture and lustre of the paint to accentuate the interplay of light and shade in his work.

James is a highly acclaimed and respected artist. He exhibits widely and has work in many collections including those of the House of Lords, Glasgow University, and the Maclaurin Gallery. He is also a past winner of the prestigious Laing Landscape Competition and the Scotsman Art Competition.