John Bellany CBE RA HRSA LLD (1942 - 2013), Scottish

“This oil on canvas is a vibrant coastal composition that reflects John Bellany’s lifelong engagement with the sea and the fishing communities of Scotland’s east coast. The painting centres on two fishing boats set against the shifting blues of the Firth of Forth with rich reds, luminous turquoise blues, and bands of yellow shoreline creating a striking contrast across the composition.”

John Bellany was one of the most significant Scottish painters of the twentieth century, internationally recognised for his powerful figurative works rooted in Scotland’s coastal life and maritime heritage. Born in the fishing village of Port Seton, East Lothian, Bellany grew up within a close-knit seafaring community whose traditions, dangers, and folklore became central themes throughout his art.

He studied at Edinburgh College of Art and later at the Royal College of Art in London, where he developed the distinctive expressive style for which he became renowned. Bellany’s paintings combine symbolism, religious imagery, and autobiographical narrative, often exploring universal themes of mortality, faith, identity, and redemption through bold colour and emotionally charged figures.

Following a life-saving liver transplant in 1988, Bellany entered a celebrated late period marked by renewed vitality and luminous colour, producing some of the most acclaimed works of his career. His paintings are held in major public collections including Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland.

Today, Bellany’s work remains highly sought after by collectors for its emotional intensity, unmistakable visual language, and enduring connection to Scotland’s cultural identity.