Graeme Sharp, Contemporary Artist, Scottish

”This piece, “Claire Resting II”, has a really calm and reflective feel to it.

The subject is shown with her eyes closed, almost as if she’s just switched off for a moment. There’s a quietness to it that I really like. It’s not overly detailed — instead, the artist uses loose, confident strokes to build up the face and hair, which gives it a natural, unforced look.

The colours are warm and soft, with hints of blue and orange running through the painting, and they work well together without feeling too bold or overpowering.

What drew me to it was that sense of stillness. It feels like a private moment, captured in a very simple but effective way.

Despite its size, it has a nice presence and works well as something you can live with day to day.”

Graeme Sharp is a contemporary Scottish painter known for expressive portrait work. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 1995, where his degree show attracted early attention.

He has exhibited widely across Scotland through private galleries and events such as the Glasgow Art Fair, and his work is held in private collections in the UK and internationally.

Sharp has been described as an “up-and-coming” Scottish artist by gallery owner John McDermott on STV News, reflecting the growing interest in his work among collectors.

His practice focuses primarily on portraiture, using bold colour and layered paint application—often with a palette knife—to create expressive, textured surfaces. His paintings emphasise mood and presence over strict realism, capturing a sense of the subject through colour and form.