Robert McNeill RSW

I have a longstanding interest in light / colour and our visual perception of it. This has been a preoccupation of mine, during and since a post graduate year at Edinburgh College of Art / Edinburgh University. In recent years my focus has deviated from colour abstraction to investigating and recording the visual impact of light on natures limitless wealth of plant forms.

My depth of engagement, is highlighted by rigorous objective visual enquiry, interrogating every aspect of a subject through the manipulation of light to ascertain which aspects reveal the essence and dynamic nature of the plant form. My watercolours are strongly grounded in painterly processes, to meet the complexity of my chosen subjects, and bear witness to a creative process that is always in a state of flux. The orchestration of my highly descriptive visual language is testimony to my accrued years of in-depth knowledge and understanding regarding the dynamics, complexities and application of colour interaction. I have an unwavering patience and persistence regarding all aspects of my work, particularly when capturing the impact of light and colour. This, along with dynamic form and meticulous detail has become my “Hallmark”.  However, my paintings can only ever be, an approximation of what l perceive, an arrangement of colour relationships that create an illusion of reality on a flat substrate.

In our digital age, we are constantly bombarded with “throwaway” instantly created images, with little time if any to analyse or appreciate their content. The speed of my process seems at odds with this, as my paintings demand time from the spectator, to fully engage and appreciate their varying levels of visual complexity. You must take time, to get beyond preconceived notions of my imagery. Realism is not my objective; it is a byproduct of my process. 

Currently, l collaborate with my wife, Fiona Strickland RSW, on a project exploring the rich local habitats that contribute to nature’s biodiversity.