Peant is Crèadh/Paint and Clay, by David Greenhall & Sue Blair
Exhibition run: Sat 16 March – Sat 4 May
Main Gallery
David Greenall made the news in late 2023 when his painting Crofts at South Dell won the prestigious Highland Art Prize at the Royal National Mod in Paisley. This would have come as no surprise, however, to anyone familiar with his work.
Born on Merseyside in 1947, he left school at the age of fifteen and worked in the fishing and building industries before taking up painting in his late twenties, attending Norwich School of Art in 1992 as a mature student, followed by fine art printmaking at Winchester, for his BA Honours Degree. On moving to South Dell in Lewis in 1991, he set up a studio with his wife, the painter Ruth O’Dell.
His paintings of light and landscape – composed of raw pigments, blended with wax, resin, oil or egg tempera – are luminous, subtle, and nuanced yet rendered with power, vigour, and unerring draughtsmanship.
Sue Blair, who owns and runs Borgh Pottery has been a ceramicist since establishing the business with her late husband Alex, as Stornoway Pottery in 1974, moving to Borgh in 1978. Its critical, commercial success, and longevity is a testimony to the enduring quality of her work. Like David Greenall, in the 90s Sue enrolled at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen as a mature student, elevating her horizons and the depth and range of her work. On graduating it resulted in Pàrras (Paradise), an ambitious, interior garden installation with a ceramic fountain as a centrepiece, held at the original An Lanntair. Borgh pottery continues to thrive.
Near neighbours for many years, and kindred spirits, their exceptional work is the harvest of a lifetime’s application and commitment to the arts.
Gàidhlig
Bha Daibhidh Greenall ‘sna naidheachdan ann an 2023 nuair a bhuanaich an dealbh aige Croitean aig Dail bho Dheas am prìomh Duais-Ealan Gaidhealtachd aig a Mhòd Nàiseanta ann am Pàislig. Ged nach cuiridh sin iognadh air neach ‘sam bith a tha eòlach air obair.
Rugadh e ann an Liverpool ann an 1947, ‘s dh’fhàg e sgoil ‘nuair a bha e còig bliadhna deug. Bha e na iasgair agus a sàs ann an obair-togal mas do thòisich e a’ peantadh nuair a bha e ‘sna ficheadan. Chaidh e do Sgoil-Ealan Norwich ann an 1982, agus an deidh sin gu Winchester airson barantas BA. Thàinig e fhèin ‘sa bhean gu Dail bho Dheas ann an 1991 far an do dh’fhosgail iad stiùidiò-ealain.
‘Sann an sin a bhithis e a’ peantadh na deilbh a tha na’n mholadh do seallaidhean-tire is solas. Air an cruthachadh bho dathan measgaichte le cèir, bìth, ola is brìgh-ugha, tha an obair aige soillear, seòlta, nuansach ach le neart, clì is tarraingeachd fìorainneachd.
Tha Sue Blair aig a bheil crèadhadaireachd Bhorgh air a bhi an sàs ann an saoghal crèadhaireachd bho’n àm a dh’fhosgail iad an gniomhachas ann an 1974. As deidh a’ dhol gu Borgh tha an soirbheachas malairteach, breitheachal is fad-shaoghalachd mar theisteanas do’n obair leantaileach aice.
Mar David Greenall, anns na 90s chaidh Sue chun Sgoil Ealain ann an Obar-eadhain na h-oileanach inbheach, a togail fàire, farsaingeachd, domhainn is fada, na h-obair. Thainig Pàrras a-mach à sin. Gàrradh àird-aigneach, leth-a-staigh, le fuaran mor creadh na mheadhon, a bha anns a chiad Lanntair. Tha Creadhaireachd Borgh a soirbheachadh fhathast.
Càirdean airson bliadhnaichean agus spioraidean dàimheil, tha an obair-sa air-leth. Arbhar airson tabhartas beatha anns na h-ealain