John Byrne RSA b. 1940
Overview
Dead End, exhibited 2014 - SOLD
Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, John Byrne is one of the most inventive and contrary artists working in Scotland today. Both stylistically and in terms of subject matter his work fizzes off in all directions, always however underpinned by technical mastery. He is probably more widely known for his work in the theatre and television, with plays like Slab Boys and Tutti Frutti. As a painter he is quite without parallel. As his friend Robbie Coltrane wrote in 2000 of Byrne's sketches: 'if I could draw like that I would give up everything else in my life'.
Works
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John Byrne RSABoy with a blackbird, c. 1968-69signed 'Patrick'oil on board12 ½ x 14 inches • 31.8 x 35.6 cm
[gallery: London] -
John Byrne RSAThe Dark Wood, 2021signed; signed and titled on board versooil on board23 3/4 x 37 3/4 inches
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John Byrne RSABlack Guy New York, 2020signedoil and pencil on board28 1/4 x 17 inches
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John Byrne RSABlack Lives Matter, 2020signedoil on board23 3/4 x 26 inches
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John Byrne RSARed Sails in the Sunset, 2016signedoil on panel24 x 48 inches
[gallery: Edinburgh] -
John Byrne RSAThe Missionary, 2016signedoil on board47 x 55 inches
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John Byrne RSALa Bête Rouge, 2014signedoil on board29 1/2 x 22 1/2 inches
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John Byrne RSAScruff, 2012signed; titled on board versooil on board39 x 22 inches
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John Byrne RSABlack Guy in Hat, 2005signedoil on board48 x 36 inches
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John Byrne RSAPortrait of Ingebjorg Smith, 2003signed and inscribed 'Ingebjorg'pastel28 x 31 inches
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John Byrne RSADanse Macabre, 2002signed; signed and titled on board versooil on board47 1/4 x 35 1/2 inches
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John Byrne RSAChild and Lion, 1975signed 'Patrick'; titled on stretcher versooil on canvas18 x 20 inches
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John Byrne RSA'Blowin' Wildsigned, titled and editioned 'PP' in pencil to marginscreenprint13 x 12 inches
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John Byrne RSABy the Seasigned twiceoil and pastel on Arches paper30 x 22 inches
Exhibitions
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History of the New
1 Jun - 29 Jul 2023 Edinburgh, LondonOur summer show brings together artists who found themselves working at the threshold of the modern. It was this self-awareness and urge to make it new that motivated them as...Read more -
Winter in Edinburgh
12 Jan - 11 Mar 2023 EdinburghRead more -
True to Nature
Trees in Scottish Art 23 Sep - 12 Nov 2022 EdinburghTrees, as an extension of the natural landscape, have been weighted with meaning throughout the history of art. Over time allegory gave way to the decorative and picturesque. The broader...Read more -
John Byrne
Ceci n'est pas une rétrospective 25 May - 16 Jul 2022 Edinburgh“Paisley ‘buddies’ are, to a man and a woman, total oddballs. I should know, I’m one of them,” said John once. John’s formal life as an artist began aged...Read more -
Disegno
17th to 21st century drawings by Scottish artists 10 Jun - 24 Jul 2021 EdinburghThe Fine Art Society in Edinburgh presents Disegno, an exhibition of drawings by Scottish artists from the 17th through 21st centuries. Draughtsmanship and linework are at the forefront of this...Read more -
New Works
6 - 29 May 2021 EdinburghThe Fine Art Society presents an exhibition of newly acquired work from 19th and 20th century Scottish artists, including: Patrick William Adam, Cosmo Alexander, Phyllis Bone, Sam Bough, John Boyd,...Read more -
Modern
18 Feb - 27 Mar 2021 Edinburgh20th century Scottish works of art, including Barbara Balmer, Robert Henderson Blyth, John Boyd, John Byrne, FCB Cadell, Ian Fleming, William Gillies, Jack Knox, William McCance, and John McLean.Read more -
Christmas
at The Fine Art Society 4 - 23 Dec 2020 EdinburghRead more -
John Byrne and Ron Sandford
Harbour Cottage Gallery, Kirkcudbright 15 - 30 Aug 2020Harbour Cottage Gallery Castle Bank, Kirkcudbright DG6 4LB In this extraordinary year, we have broken with tradition and bring two great living artists to Kirkcudbright. Great draftsmanship underpins both; one...Read more -
John Byrne
Welcome To My World 19 Jun - 25 Jul 2020 EdinburghJohn is an epiphany baby, born 6th January 1940. 2020 began, then, with a notable birthday and an unreasonably busy calendar that included a new theatre production, in conversations, a...Read more -
Hang 3 //
Scottish Painting 1950-1980 19 Mar - 25 Apr 2020 EdinburghThe decades following WW2 saw artists take new forms of artistic expression. The order and rationalism that had preceded was rejected. Painting became more gestural and instinctive; this was achieved...Read more -
The Print Show
13 Jan - 8 Feb 2020 EdinburghThe Print Show presented an annual exhibition of Scottish printmaking, featuring three centuries of etchings, drypoint, woodcuts and lithography. Exhibited artists included: Sir Muirhead Bone, James Mcbey, Gerald Brockhurst, Robert...Read more -
John Byrne
Then Till Now 27 Sep - 9 Nov 2019 EdinburghJohn Byrne: Then Till Now was a small exhibition of paintings, drawings and prints by John Byrne, dating from the late 1960s to today. Early works included watercolours signed 'Patrick'...Read more -
Intimate
A Portrait 25 Jul - 31 Aug 2019 EdinburghClose and personal portraiture: painting, sculpture and photography by living and twentieth century artists whose sitters are closest to them or whose inner workings engage them, sometimes the artist themselves....Read more -
In The Frame
Small Paintings and Antique Frames 18 Jan - 16 Feb 2019 EdinburghAn exhibition of small paintings by Scottish artists displayed within groups of antique frames from the 18th-20th centuries. These were a selection of frames from our extensive period frame stock...Read more -
John Byrne
The Boy and the Jabberwock 28 Feb - 29 Mar 2018 EdinburghThis exhibition included John Byrne's work in theatre, film and television through preliminary drawings and character sketches from Tutti Frutti, The Slab Boys and Writer's Cramp. A highlight among these...Read more -
John Byrne
Rock 'n' Roll 24 Nov - 23 Dec 2017 EdinburghThe Fine Art Society presents Rock ‘n’ Roll, a selling exhibition of works by John Byrne RSA. Central to the exhibition is a large scale oil The Song of the...Read more -
John Byrne
Lullaby of Broadway 12 - 29 Sep 2017 LondonLullaby of Broadway was the fifth solo exhibition of acclaimed Scottish painter John Byrne at our London gallery. The title of the show is a song known to many. First...Read more -
Notable
Highlights from the year 23 Jun - 15 Jul 2017 EdinburghNotable drew together a selection of the most memorable and significant paintings to have passed through the doors of The Fine Art Society in Edinburgh in 2017. The rarity, ingenuity,...Read more -
Ornis Logos
Paintings, Prints, Taxidermy 21 Jun - 28 Aug 2017 EdinburghOrnis Logos: an ornithologically themed exhibition of paintings, prints, taxidermy and design from Scottish artists spanning 300 years. The exhibition included one off prints on canvas by Timorous Beasties, taxidermy...Read more -
Muse
26 May - 17 Jun 2017 EdinburghA small exhibition, Muse, drew together a select group of works that reflect the source of artistic inspiration be it an individual, a character from literature or a group. Central...Read more -
Folk and Fancy
Tales and Tradition 21 Apr - 20 May 2017 EdinburghCentral to the show was a large-scale painting by James Howe (1780-1836) of All Hallow’s Fair on Calton Hill (c .1817-22). The last All Hallow’s fair was held in 1813...Read more -
John Byrne
Moonshine 18 Nov - 23 Dec 2016 EdinburghPainted in 2016, the works in this exhibition marked a transitional moment in John Byrne's evolving creativity. Still capturing glimpses of familiar faces: the Teddy boy and the blonde from...Read more -
John Byrne RSA
Dead End 3 Jul - 1 Sep 2014 EdinburghJohn Byrne's artistic career began in 1967 when he assumed the identity of the naive painter 'Patrick' for a series of shows at the Portal Gallery, London. A true renaissance...Read more -
Scottish Pictures of the Twentieth Century
15 Feb - 16 Mar 2013 EdinburghWith work by E A Hornel, Sir D Y Cameron, S J Peploe, Anne Redpath, Sir William Gillies, A R Sturrock, William Wilson, Sir W O Hutchison, Alberto Morrocco, Robert...Read more -
Five Centuries of Scottish Portraiture
30 Jul - 3 Sep 2011 EdinburghPortraits are windows into the period in which in they were painted – not merely because they demonstrate the painting techniques of the time, the fashions of art or of...Read more
