Davy Macdonald – a dramatic artist with a story to tell: Gothic Edinburgh at Dundas Street Gallery

Davy Macdonald is a remarkable,  original artist specialising in portraiture, who has been exhibiting regular shows in Edinburgh and London since 2009. The Dundas Street Gallery is again the venue for his latest collection of work entitled Gothic Edinburgh.

“Edinburgh, the most Gothic city outside of Transylvania” – Lonely Planet Guide

Macdonald does not simply create figurative works, a portrait on the canvas. Over the years he has researched and developed historic or cultural backgrounds for his Heritage Series – paintings which tell a story from Scotland’s past.

Fascinated by the Medieval architecture of Edinburgh’s Old Town and the ghosts still haunting the cobbled closes, these are dark and dramatic scenes. Women, half hidden behind black cloaks are captured lurking in shadowy candlelight, outside churches and ancient wooden doors.

These are moody, menacing images which illustrate only too well Edinburgh’s legendary ghoulish past of body snatchers, preserving its sense of place which inspired Mary Shelley to create Frankenstein. No wonder the nightly Ghost Tours do a roaring trade year round.!

As well as Gothic Edinburgh, there’s also the opportunity to view a selection of works still available from previous shows. The Heritage series depicting the Harris Tweed workers are charming portraits of women against the scenic beauty of the Western Isles.

“ My vision, using Island girls as models, period costume & artefacts and awe-inspiring locations in the Western Isles, was to recreate and capture the processes that were required to produce Harris Tweed in the Outer Hebrides, some of which are gradually being forgotten.” Davy Macdonald.

Harris Tweed makers

You can almost feel the sun on their faces and see the movement of their hands waulking the wool in time to the musical rhythm of their songs.

Here too are a few portraits from the series, Herring Lassies, the iconic fisherwomen who worked in the port at Newhaven, with their nets, baskets and barrels of fresh and salted fish:

“The backdrop for these paintings is Newhaven Harbour in Edinburgh. The idea was to recreate and capture the spirit and camaraderie of the Herring Lassies. Thousands of girls from the Scottish Highlands and islands worked in the Herring industry. They always worked in a tight knit crew of three.“

Herring Lassies

Fast forward to the 1920s and a time of elegance and glamour in his Deco Dames – young flirty flapper girls in their pearls enjoying the decadent champagne lifestyle and party fun.

Whispering Deco Dames

This wide-ranging exhibition not only presents Davy Macdonald’s latest work but is also a fine retrospective to highlight the excellent Heritage series of recent years.

A portfolio of well priced Limited Edition prints are also for sale. And if that is not enough choice, private commissions are accepted for individual portraits. A perfect birthday or anniversary present for friends and family to treasure.!

Mike and Flora, private commission

This Gothic Edinburgh Exhibition was kindly sponsored by Ondine (Seafood) Restaurant, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh where a small selection of Davy Macdonald’s artwork is on show.

Dundas Street Gallery, 6 Dundas Street, Edinburgh EH3 6HZ.
Exhibition dates – 21 – 28 March, 2015. 10am – 6pm.

For more information:
Davy Macdonald: http://www.dmacart.com

Ondine Restaurant – http://www.ondinerestaurant.co.uk

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