Marie Louise Wrightson – a colourful exhibition of “curiouser and curiouser” paintings on show at Robertson Fine Art, Edinburgh

Art lovers can enjoy an ever revolving mixed exhibition of contemporary landscapes, portraits, photographic prints, sculpture and cutting edge urban street work – at Robertson Fine Art.  Under Managing Director, Gordon Robertson, the company has three galleries in Glenrothes, Dollar and now here in Edinburgh.

Robertson Fine Art, Edinburgh

At their city centre gallery, well located on Hanover Street, their featured Artist of the Month is Marie Louise Wrightson whose eclectic work is distinctive by its quirky imagery and artistic technique.  Her work has been shown in Edinburgh over recent years at the Royal Scottish Academy, Leith Gallery, Alpha and galleries in Dundee, Fife and Glasgow.

After Wrightson studied fine art at Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art in Dundee, she later settled in Auchtermuchty, Fife where she paints in her Summer House Studio.

Fairy tales, cartoons, films, classic stories and the memories of seaside holidays from childhood are often the inspiration for her work – sweet shops, Fairground merry-go round rides, birds and animals to create imaginative still lifes and realistic figurative studies.

Marie Louise Wrightson

This collection of oil paintings and prints depicts, through colourful, humorous images, a modern vision of the crazy characters and fantasy tales from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Alice in Wonderland – original book illustration

First published in 1865, its fantasy plot, humorous rhymes, riddles, puzzles and brilliant use of nonsense was revolutionary for a Victorian children’s novel, being neither moralistic or educational.

Illustration has always been an essential ingredient in books for children, who from a young age, understand how both the pictures and the words both tell the story as they learn to read.

“And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversation?”

As you wander around Robertson’s Art Gallery, enter a fantasy world of the White rabbit, the Cheshire cat, cute mice, a walrus, the Mad Hatter, buckets and spades, butterflies, delicious jam tarts, cream cakes, tea cups,  playing cards, trees and flowers. And there’s Alice, our sweet, young heroine appearing at the heart of this enchanting wonderland.

Marie Louise Wrightson

The artistic style is certainly unique – a blend of caricature, Disney-esque cartoons, Japanese Anime combined with the classic technique of fine art and portraiture.  Some paintings are innocent and fun, while others cleverly re-imagine Alice in Wonderland as a flirty beach babe with a subtle touch of the saucy seaside postcard style of Donald McGill.

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn’t …”  .

At the preview event last Saturday, the visitors were enthralled with red stickers spreading like measles around the original art work and prints.   These will only be on show from 4th June for about ten days so take a visit to Robertson’s Fine Art soon to see Marie’s magical decorative illustrations which will sure to inspire and amuse both adults and children.

Curiouser and Curiouser indeed!.

Robertson Fine Art,  100 Hanover Street,  Edinburgh,  EH2 1DR

0131 285 0695  – www.robertsonfineart.co.uk

Marie Louise Wrightson

Advertisement