{"id":55178,"date":"2025-03-19T11:31:24","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T11:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/?p=55178"},"modified":"2025-03-20T10:25:25","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T10:25:25","slug":"travelling-and-returning-fionna-carlisle-at-the-scottish-arts-club-edinburgh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/travelling-and-returning-fionna-carlisle-at-the-scottish-arts-club-edinburgh\/","title":{"rendered":"Travelling and Returning: Fionna Carlisle at the Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>After studying at Edinburgh College of Art (1972-76), painter <strong>Fionna Carlisle<\/strong> was awarded the post-graduate Andrew Grant scholarship, then in 1982 received a major Scottish Arts Council bursary, which she used to travel to China, launching a distinguished international career. A fellow student at the ECA, Andrew Brown founded the 369 Gallery in 1978, dedicated to young Scottish artists, including many \u2018Grandes Dames\u2019 \u2013 Pat Douthwaite, Lil Neilson, June Redfern, Caroline McNairn and Fionna Carlisle. The 369 was the first British gallery to take part at the Chicago Art Fair, leading to shows in New York, Europe, the Far East and \u2018Contemporary Scottish Painting\u2019 in Moscow. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since then, Fionna Carlisle has had numerous group and solo exhibitions and important commissions, with work held in prestigious gallery and corporate collections. Her vibrant figurative studies and landscapes have always expressed a bold, distinctive style, as one of the pioneering \u2018New Scottish Colourists\u2019. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-overview-1024x649.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, Scottish Arts Club, gallery view\" class=\"wp-image-55189 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"649\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-overview-1024x649.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, Scottish Arts Club, gallery view\" class=\"wp-image-55189 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-overview-1024x649.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-overview-480x304.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-overview-150x95.jpg 150w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-overview-768x486.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-overview.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Scottish Arts Club gallery view<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This show takes us on an inspirational journey: born in Wick, she was brought up mainly in Edinburgh, returning to Caithness for summer holidays, and now lives in Scotland and Crete \u2013 her home for part of the year.\u00a0With a golden luminosity, <em>Caithness Thistles<\/em> \u2013 the spiky purple and green Flower of Scotland \u2013 evokes childhood walks with her mother and grandmother along the cliffs to the outdoor swimming pool, \u2018The Trinkie\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Caithness-Thistles-acrylic-1024x1251.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Caithness Thistles', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55186 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1251\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Caithness-Thistles-acrylic-1024x1251.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Caithness Thistles', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55186 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Caithness-Thistles-acrylic-1024x1251.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Caithness-Thistles-acrylic-480x586.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Caithness-Thistles-acrylic-123x150.jpg 123w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Caithness-Thistles-acrylic-768x938.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Caithness-Thistles-acrylic.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>&#8216;Caithness Thistles&#8217;, acrylic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the New Town, Edinburgh, a tall vase of yellow flowers &#8211; daffodils, gladioli, narcissus \u2013 is displayed in a townhouse on <em>Northumberland Street<\/em>, a composition embodying characteristics of Matisse\u2019s still-life studies, focusing on a decorative pattern of precise colour and contour lines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Northumberland-Street-acrylic-1024x1058.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Northumberland Street', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55188 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1058\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Northumberland-Street-acrylic-1024x1058.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Northumberland Street', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55188 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Northumberland-Street-acrylic-1024x1058.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Northumberland-Street-acrylic-480x496.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Northumberland-Street-acrylic-145x150.jpg 145w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Northumberland-Street-acrylic-768x794.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Northumberland-Street-acrylic.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>&#8216;Northumberland Street&#8217;, acrylic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Edinburgh&#8217;s urban village of Stockbridge has gentrified over the years into a cultural Hampstead\/Notting Hill hub of bars, restaurants, bookshops, art and design; a memory of &#8216;Danube Street ladies&#8217; and Tiffany\u2019s nightclub haunts this scene with the wild expression on the dancer\u2019s face with exaggerated Lulu Guinness red lips.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Stockbridge-acrylic-1024x1035.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Stockbridge', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55190 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1035\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Stockbridge-acrylic-1024x1035.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Stockbridge', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55190 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Stockbridge-acrylic-1024x1035.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Stockbridge-acrylic-480x485.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Stockbridge-acrylic-148x150.jpg 148w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Stockbridge-acrylic-768x776.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Stockbridge-acrylic.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>&#8216;Stockbridge&#8217;, acrylic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A delightful nude sketch <em>Lily in the Bath<\/em> probably dates from student days in Edinburgh. Just like the intimate portrayals of women bathing by Bonnard and Degas, this is an immediate snapshot moment, delicately sketched in charcoal for posterity; today, zapped on a smartphone to share on Instagram.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Lily-in-the-Bath-charcoal-sketch-1024x726.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Lily in the Bath', charcoal sketch\" class=\"wp-image-55183 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Lily-in-the-Bath-charcoal-sketch-1024x726.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Lily in the Bath', charcoal sketch\" class=\"wp-image-55183 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Lily-in-the-Bath-charcoal-sketch-1024x726.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Lily-in-the-Bath-charcoal-sketch-480x340.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Lily-in-the-Bath-charcoal-sketch-150x106.jpg 150w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Lily-in-the-Bath-charcoal-sketch-768x545.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Lily-in-the-Bath-charcoal-sketch.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>&#8216;Lily in the Bath&#8217;, charcoal sketch<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Lively nightlife is witnessed too in <em>To Loulouthi <\/em>at El Mondo\u2019s bar in Xania, Crete, in which a couple tentatively eye-up each other, as a guy attempts to sell a bouquet &#8211; Loulouthi is the Greek word for flowers. You can almost feel the heat and hear the rhythmic beat of music in this jazzy painting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-To-Loulouthi-acrylic-1024x890.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'To Loulouthi', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55191 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"890\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-To-Loulouthi-acrylic-1024x890.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'To Loulouthi', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55191 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-To-Loulouthi-acrylic-1024x890.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-To-Loulouthi-acrylic-480x417.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-To-Loulouthi-acrylic-150x130.jpg 150w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-To-Loulouthi-acrylic-768x668.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-To-Loulouthi-acrylic.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>To Loulouthi&#8217;, acrylic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The subtle sense of movement through the arm gestures and physicality of these partygoers is also captured in <em>Anterastes<\/em>, taken from a sketch of a cabaret singer in Prague. The word Anterastes means Rivals in Love, as dramatically illustrated in one woman&#8217;s antagonistic glare while the other has a protective, possessive hold over her male escort.\u00a0In the foreground, a figure theatrically covers their face with a Munch-like silent scream.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Anterastes-acrylic-1024x1183.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Anterastes', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55182 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1183\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Anterastes-acrylic-1024x1183.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Anterastes', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55182 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Anterastes-acrylic-1024x1183.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Anterastes-acrylic-480x554.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Anterastes-acrylic-130x150.jpg 130w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Anterastes-acrylic-768x887.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Anterastes-acrylic.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Anterastes&#8217;, acrylic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A dramatically-atmospheric scene of wild waves and wind-tossed palm trees in <em>Xania Storm<\/em>, comprises an electrifying colour palette of purple, green, aqua and orange as the tempestuous sea crashes against the ancient stone walls of the pier.&nbsp;This storm was experienced during Fionna\u2019s first winter living there \u2013 a warning that Greece is not always about summer sun.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Xania-Storm-acrylic-1024x866.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Xania Storm', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55192 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"866\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Xania-Storm-acrylic-1024x866.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Xania Storm', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55192 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Xania-Storm-acrylic-1024x866.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Xania-Storm-acrylic-480x406.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Xania-Storm-acrylic-150x127.jpg 150w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Xania-Storm-acrylic-768x650.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Xania-Storm-acrylic.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>&#8216;Xania Storm&#8217;, acrylic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2018Fionna Carlisle is a naturally gifted painter, her heroic determination has an Olympic dimension for she spends half the year on the island of Crete, where her art soaks up sunlight.&nbsp;She paints people, flowers and landscapes &#8211; all spring from the same source whether it\u2019s the dark, sultry or the sumptuousness of sunflowers.\u2019 <\/em>&#8211; Julian Spalding, (Museum director, art critic and writer).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-view-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, Scottish Arts Club gallery view\" class=\"wp-image-55181 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-view-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, Scottish Arts Club gallery view\" class=\"wp-image-55181 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-view-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-view-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-view-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-view-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Scottish-Arts-Club-gallery-view.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Scottish Arts Club gallery view<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Fascinated by the contrast in colour between Crete and Majorca, she experiments with sunlight shimmering over a <em>Majorcan Landscape.&nbsp;<\/em>With Kokoschka-esque expressionism, spontaneous, staccato swirls of peach, pink, green and blue paint flow like ribbons and rivers, the floral foliage jungle camouflaged against the craggy sandstone terrain of the mountain.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Majorcan-Landscape-acrylic-1024x1018.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Majorcan Landscape', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55187 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1018\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Majorcan-Landscape-acrylic-1024x1018.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Majorcan Landscape', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55187 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Majorcan-Landscape-acrylic-1024x1018.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Majorcan-Landscape-acrylic-480x477.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Majorcan-Landscape-acrylic-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Majorcan-Landscape-acrylic-768x764.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Majorcan-Landscape-acrylic.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>&#8216;Majorcan Landscape&#8217;, acrylic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Portraiture has also been central to Fionna\u2019s career, with important commissions including <em>Energy: North Sea Portraits<\/em>&nbsp;(Scottish National Portrait Gallery) depicting the close-knit community of oil rig workers, and<em> The Art of Intelligent Ageing,<\/em> (University of Edinburgh), to commemorate scientists, academics and politicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Professor Peter Higgs<\/em> (1929- 2024) was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the Higgs Boson particle and outstanding research to understand the Universe.&nbsp;As Fionna recalls, \u2018<em>I was thrilled when Peter asked me to paint his portrait and we used to meet frequently for lunch at our favourite Greek restaurant in Edinburgh\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Professor-Peter-Higgs-acrylic-1024x1457.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Professor Peter Higgs', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55184 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1457\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Professor-Peter-Higgs-acrylic-1024x1457.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Professor Peter Higgs', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55184 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Professor-Peter-Higgs-acrylic-1024x1457.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Professor-Peter-Higgs-acrylic-480x683.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Professor-Peter-Higgs-acrylic-105x150.jpg 105w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Professor-Peter-Higgs-acrylic-768x1092.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Professor-Peter-Higgs-acrylic-1080x1536.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Professor-Peter-Higgs-acrylic.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>&#8216;Professor Peter Higgs&#8217;, acrylic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Carlisle\u2019s approach to depicting a likeness of her sitter is clearly about knowing and understanding the person, under the skin.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2018Fionna Carlisle does not paint from photographs. She paints from life. And if you will surrender your sense of who you are, she will capture you as she sees you, not at this moment in time, but at this point in your life, with all that you have seen and known and done, woven into the strokes of her brush\u2019.<\/em>&nbsp;&#8211; Allan Little (BBC News correspondent).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A current project,&nbsp;<em>Women with Form<\/em>,&nbsp;to be accompanied by a&nbsp;film documentary, features portraits of crime writer Val McDermid, playwright Jo Clifford, tennis champion Judy Murray, blues queen Maggie Bell, and the singer <em>Barbara Dickson,<\/em> which is on show here for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This cool, confident lady in red, wrapped up in a glamorous black coat, looks directly at the artist (and us), her head tilted with a slight wry smile and quizzical expression.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Barbara-Dickson-acrylic-1024x1406.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Barbara Dickson', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55185 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1406\" src=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Barbara-Dickson-acrylic-1024x1406.jpg\" alt=\"Fionna Carlisle, 'Barbara Dickson', acrylic\" class=\"wp-image-55185 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Barbara-Dickson-acrylic-1024x1406.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Barbara-Dickson-acrylic-480x659.jpg 480w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Barbara-Dickson-acrylic-109x150.jpg 109w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Barbara-Dickson-acrylic-768x1055.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Barbara-Dickson-acrylic-1118x1536.jpg 1118w, https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Fionna-Carlisle-Barbara-Dickson-acrylic.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Barbara Dickson&#8217;, acrylic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2018There\u2019s a similarity between fine art and music, it\u2019s about expression \u2013 you feel that you have to express yourself, to sing and play or to paint if it\u2019s in your heart\u2019. <\/em>&#8211; Barbara Dickson&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a joyous celebration of Fionna Carlisle\u2019s dynamic career, illustrating her signature style: lush landscapes evoking the spirit of time and place, figurative studies bursting with verve and vitality, and portraits reflecting a quiet emotional sensibility. A Grande Dame of the art world indeed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>With thanks to&nbsp;Vivien Devlin for this review.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><b><i>Review<\/i><\/b>: The much-travelled Fionna Carlisle shares her experiences through art at Edinburgh&#8217;s Scottish Arts Club.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":55188,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[190],"tags":[3106,1048],"topic":[252],"class_list":["post-55178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-visual-arts-reviews","tag-fionna-carlisle","tag-scottish-arts-club","topic-exhibition-reviews"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55178","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55178"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55178\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55178"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artmag.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=55178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}