John McLean 1939-2019

Overview

Regarded as one of the outstanding abstract painters of his generation, John McLean, who died in 2019, left a rich and substantial legacy of work stretching over several decades.

 

Colour, form, and space are the core elements of John's work. From the formal precision of his early work, to the free-flowing painterly expression he later developed, luminosity and rhythm run throughout. In 1981 he made his first visit as a guest artist to the Emma Lake workshop in Saskatchewan, Canada. Critics and artists there had an impact on John’s work, as did the landscape of the North American prairies. Throughout the 1980s John made regular visits to North America, sometimes spending whole summers in the city of Saskatoon to capture the light.

 

The son of artist Talbert McLean, John was raised in Arbroath and moved to London to study at the Courtauld Institute, spending the 1960s and 1970s at the Stockwell Depot of artists. His first solo exhibition was in 1975 at Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh, and he has since had more than forty solo exhibitions worldwide. John’s painting has often been described as lyrical, but these are playful too. Bold strokes of colour are suspended, as if agitating independently. He was once described as "an explorative perfectionist" by Tim Hilton. Nothing in these works is accidental, but such is the apparent freedom with which they have been executed we are lulled into a sense of unconfined possibility.

 

John's work is represented in many public collections including the Boca Raton Museum of Art, U.S.A.; The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; Glasgow Museums and Galleries; The Hunterian Collection; The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art; The Scottish National Portrait Gallery; Southampton City Art Gallery; Swindon Art Gallery; Tate Gallery, London; and the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester. His many awards include an Arts Council Major Award, 1980; The Lorne Award, 1993; Critics Award, Edinburgh Festival, 1994; and a Bryan Robertson Trust Award, 2008.

 

The Fine Art Society are pleased to represent the estate of John McLean. For further information about John please visit johnmcleanart.com

 

 

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Works
  • John McLean, Untitled, c.1981
    John McLean
    Untitled, c.1981
    acrylic on canvas
    62 x 38 ¼ inches
  • John McLean, Untitled, c.1981
    John McLean
    Untitled, c.1981
    acrylic on canvas
    42 x 42 inches
  • John McLean, Untitled, 2019
    John McLean
    Untitled, 2019
    acrylic on canvas
    82 ½ x 17 ¾ inches
  • John McLean, Garrochan, 2018
    John McLean
    Garrochan, 2018
    signed, titled and dated 2018 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    51 ¼ x 39 ¼ inches
  • John McLean, Tocsin, 2018
    John McLean
    Tocsin, 2018
    signed, titled and dated 2018 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    51 ¼ x 39 ¼ inches
  • John McLean, Oxter, 2017
    John McLean
    Oxter, 2017
    acrylic on canvas
    39 ¼ x 51 ½ inches
  • John McLean, Astratto, 2016
    John McLean
    Astratto, 2016
    signed, titled and dated verso
    acrylic on canvas
    55 ¼ x 33 ½ inches
    140.5 x 85 cm
  • John McLean, Antofagasta, 2014
    John McLean
    Antofagasta, 2014
    signed, titled and dated 2014 verso
    acrylic and collage on canvas
    27 ½ x 39 ¼ inches
  • John McLean, Boddin, 2011
    John McLean
    Boddin, 2011
    signed, titled and dated 2011 verso
    acrylic and collage on canvas
    8 x 9 ¾ inches
  • John McLean, Cusps, 2011
    John McLean
    Cusps, 2011
    signed, titled and dated 2011 verso
    acrylic and collage on canvas
    9 ¾ x 12 inches
  • John McLean, L'alba, 2011
    John McLean
    L'alba, 2011
    acrylic and collage on canvas
    18 x 14 inches
  • John McLean, Gioco, 2009
    John McLean
    Gioco, 2009
    acrylic on etch printed aluminium
    31 ½ x 31 ½ x 25 inches
  • John McLean, Giocoliere, 2009
    John McLean
    Giocoliere, 2009
    acrylic on etch printed aluminium
    31 ½ x 31 ½ x 25 inches
  • John McLean, Gioia, 2009
    John McLean
    Gioia, 2009
    acrylic on etch printed aluminium
    31 ½ x 31 ½ x 25 inches
  • John McLean, Traffic Yellow, 2009
    John McLean
    Traffic Yellow, 2009
    steel, powder coated steel and powder coated aluminium
    94 ½ x 55 x 33 ½ inches
  • John McLean, Avanti, 2008
    John McLean
    Avanti, 2008
    signed, titled and dated 2008 verso
    acrylic and collage on canvas
    7 ¾ x 11 ¾ inches
  • John McLean, Jacob's Ladder (II), 2008
    John McLean
    Jacob's Ladder (II), 2008
    signed, titled and dated 2008 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    120 x 12 inches
  • John McLean, Giallo, 2007
    John McLean
    Giallo, 2007
    signed, titled and dated verso
    acrylic on canvas
    9 ¾ x 14 ¼ inches
    John McLean, Giallo, 2007
    £ 1,400.00
  • John McLean, Après Midi, 2006
    John McLean
    Après Midi, 2006
    acrylic and collage on canvas
    24 x 20 inches
  • John McLean, Flambeur, 2005
    John McLean
    Flambeur, 2005
    acrylic on canvas
    16 x 12 ¼ inches
  • John McLean, Iquique, 2005
    John McLean
    Iquique, 2005
    acrylic on canvas
    15 ¾ x 19 ¾ inches
  • John McLean, Untitled, 2005
    John McLean
    Untitled, 2005
    signed and dated verso
    acrylic on canvas
    18 x 14 inches
  • John McLean, Within, 2001/2010
    John McLean
    Within, 2001/2010
    signed, titled and dated 2001/2010 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    39 ¼ x 43 ¼ inches
    100 x 110 cm
  • John McLean, Canto, 2001
    John McLean
    Canto, 2001
    signed, titled and dated verso
    acrylic on canvas
    20 ¾ x 42 ½ inches
    53 x 108 cm
  • John McLean, Pleasure Garden, 1998/2003
    John McLean
    Pleasure Garden, 1998/2003
    signed, titled and dated 1998/2003 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    28 ¼ x 54 ¾ inches
    72 x 139 cm
  • John McLean, Dithyramb, 1998
    John McLean
    Dithyramb, 1998
    signed, titled, dated 1998 and inscribed 'acrylic on canvas' verso
    acrylic on canvas
    31 ½ x 42 ½ inches
    80 x 108 cm
  • John McLean, Nur Das Wintergrün, 1997
    John McLean
    Nur Das Wintergrün, 1997
    initialled and dated '97
    gouache and acrylic on paper
    22 x 30 inches
  • John McLean, Torrent, 1997
    John McLean
    Torrent, 1997
    initialled and dated '97
    acrylic on paper
    29 ½ x 22 inches
  • John McLean, Untitled, 1997
    John McLean
    Untitled, 1997
    initialled and dated '97
    acrylic on paper
    19 ¾ x 25 ½ inches
  • John McLean, Balbeuchly, 1996/2001
    John McLean
    Balbeuchly, 1996/2001
    signed, titled and dated 1996/2001 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    16 ¼ x 92 ½ inches
  • John McLean, East Coast, 1996/1998
    John McLean
    East Coast, 1996/1998
    signed, titled and dated 1996/8 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    66 ¼ x 20 inches
    168.5 x 51 cm
  • John McLean, Spindrift, 1993/2003
    John McLean
    Spindrift, 1993/2003
    signed, titled and dated 2003 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    31 ¼ x 69 ¼ inches
    79.5 x 176 cm
  • John McLean, Haven, 1990
    John McLean
    Haven, 1990
    initialled and dated 90; signed, titled and dated verso
    acrylic and watercolour on paper
    30 x 22 inches
    £ 3,200.00
  • John McLean, Beaver Creek, 1989
    John McLean
    Beaver Creek, 1989
    initialled and dated 89; signed, titled and dated verso
    acrylic and watercolour on paper
    22 x 30 inches
    John McLean, Beaver Creek, 1989
    £ 3,200.00
  • John McLean, Blue Berry, 1989
    John McLean
    Blue Berry, 1989
    signed, titled and dated 1989 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    43 ¾ x 51 ¼ inches
  • John McLean, Piccante, 1989
    John McLean
    Piccante, 1989
    signed, titled and dated 1989 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    40 ¼ x 53 ¼ inches
  • John McLean, Arcady, 1988/2003
    John McLean
    Arcady, 1988/2003
    signed, titled and dated verso
    acrylic on canvas
    30 x 89 inches
    76 x 226 cm
  • John McLean, Manitoba, 1984
    John McLean
    Manitoba, 1984
    signed, titled and dated 1984 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    64 ½ x 41 inches
  • John McLean, Haar, 1983
    John McLean
    Haar, 1983
    acrylic on canvas
    57 x 35 ½ inches
  • John McLean, Neponset, 1982
    John McLean
    Neponset, 1982
    signed, titled and dated verso
    acrylic on canvas
    67 ¼ x 43 inches
  • John McLean, Orient, 1982
    John McLean
    Orient, 1982
    initialled; signed, titled and dated on backboard
    gouache and oil pastel on paper
    7 x 10 inches
  • John McLean, Shawmut, 1982
    John McLean
    Shawmut, 1982
    acrylic on canvas
    67 x 41 ¼ inches
  • John McLean, Untitled, 1982
    John McLean
    Untitled, 1982
    acrylic on canvas
    38 x 79 ½ inches
  • John McLean, Untitled, 1982
    John McLean
    Untitled, 1982
    acrylic on canvas
    65 ¼ x 43 inches
  • John McLean, Verde, 1982
    John McLean
    Verde, 1982
    initialled; signed, titled and dated on backboard
    watercolour and oil pastel on paper
    8 x 5 ¼ inches
  • John McLean, Mannakin, 1979
    John McLean
    Mannakin, 1979
    initialled; signed, titled and dated on backboard
    gouache and oil pastel on paper
    9 ¼ x 6 inches
  • John McLean, Commovente, 1977
    John McLean
    Commovente, 1977
    initialled; signed and titled on backboard
    watercolour and oil pastel on paper
    5 ½ x 8 inches
  • John McLean, Cortona, 1975
    John McLean
    Cortona, 1975
    initialled; signed on backboard
    watercolour and gouache on paper
    7 ½ x 5 ¼ inches
  • John McLean, Howe of Fife, 1973
    John McLean
    Howe of Fife, 1973
    signed, titled and dated 1973 verso
    acrylic on canvas
    11 ¾ x 24 inches
  • John McLean, Forza, 1970
    John McLean
    Forza, 1970
    initialled; signed, titled and dated on backboard
    watercolour and oil pastel on paper
    7 x 9 inches
  • John McLean, Untitled
    John McLean
    Untitled
    initialled; another picture verso
    acrylic on paper
    5 x 8 inches
  • John McLean, Untitled
    John McLean
    Untitled
    acrylic on canvas
    69 x 43 ¼ inches
  • John McLean, Untitled
    John McLean
    Untitled
    acrylic and collage on canvas
    9 ½ x 7 inches
  • John McLean, Untitled
    John McLean
    Untitled
    acrylic on canvas
    28 ¾ x 69 ¾ inches
  • John McLean, Untitled
    John McLean
    Untitled
    acrylic on canvas
    7 ¾ x 9 ¾ inches
  • John McLean, Untitled
    John McLean
    Untitled
    acrylic on canvas
    26 ¾ x 82 ½ inches
  • John McLean, Untitled
    John McLean
    Untitled
    acrylic and watercolour on heavy paper
    15 x 22 inches
    John McLean, Untitled
    £ 2,800.00
  • John McLean, Untitled
    John McLean
    Untitled
    acrylic on paper
    15 ½ x 12 ¾ inches
    John McLean, Untitled
    £ 1,500.00
  • John McLean, Untitled
    John McLean
    Untitled
    acrylic on canvas
    34 x 58 ¾ inches
  • John McLean, Untitled
    John McLean
    Untitled
    acrylic on canvas
    43 ¾ x 65 inches
Exhibitions