Ron Sandford: 114°E / 1°W Hong Kong to Shetland
Hong Kong and Yell: two halves of The Fine Art Society’s first exhibition of drawings by Ron Sandford (b.1937). Island life from two geographically and culturally distinct and distant places are united in Ron’s appreciation of the commonplace – or common place – both richly detailed microcosms.
In the mid 1980s, Sandford settled in Lamma, a small island off Hong Kong. A sort of paradise is how he described it. Living on the edge of pre-handover China and close to Macau, he was drawn to Chinese vernacular architecture as well as life as he found it around him. After 6 years, Ron and his family moved to another island: Yell, almost as far north as you can go in the UK. From his studio, he draws the everyday, every day: still life, landscape and portrait in pencil, pen, ink and watercolour. From the windows of his studio and home, Ron looks across the Bluemull sound to Unst. A distinctive cleft in the cliff face defiantly sits in the backdrop of many pictures, a recurring motif like the container ships that lurk in the background of his Hong Kong work.
Ron grew up in Greenock, the son of a marine engineer. He was surrounded by plans and elevations. Through war-time rationing, his father brought home disused blueprints for tablecloths. The pale blue background and white skeletal drawings of cross-sections and elevations were, he recalls, ‘soaked up with my porridge’. From 1956-60 he attended Glasgow School of Art in the etching and engraving department. Encouraged by Philip Reeves, his tutor, Ron applied for and was accepted into the Royal College of Art. For three years he studied in the Graphics department where he became friends with Edward Bawden. He went on to secure a part-time teaching job at the College. Through the 60s and 70s he also taught part time in a number of prominent art schools. He illustrated books and newspapers and undertook large scale architectural commissions.
Released from those strictures, Ron’s eye and pen have roamed as they please. Alighting upon old rope, wild flowers, geos, trout, geese and sheep and in the east, broken tiles, lanterns, tropical plants and pan-tiled rooves.
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Ron SandfordAbandoned Junk Yard, Little Hong Kongstamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper40 x 35 1/2 inches
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Ron SandfordHorse Shoe Crabsigned and stamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper23 x 29 inches
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Ron SandfordO Tsai (Little Dock) Istamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper24 3/8 x 30 1/2 inches
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Ron SandfordO Tsai (Little Dock) II, night, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island, 1995signed and dated 95, stamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper28 x 39 1/2 inches
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Ron SandfordO Tsai (Little Dock) III, preparation of the Dragon Boat Festival, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Islandstamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper39 7/8 x 48 inches
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Ron SandfordGuilin Gatehousestamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper24 7/8 x 27 1/4 inches
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Ron SandfordMacau Windowstamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper21 1/4 x 25 1/2 inches
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Ron SandfordLantern Festival, Pak Kok Kau Tsuenstamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper26 5/8 x 35 1/4 in
67.6 x 89.5 cm -
Ron SandfordStreet seller, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Islandsigned and stamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper29 x 23 inches
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Ron SandfordPicture Window, 1993signed, inscribed and dated 93, stamped with artist's sealpen and ink13 3/4 x 17 3/4 in
34.9 x 45.1 cm -
Ron SandfordMacau Window, Chinese New Yearstamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper21 7/8 x 30 1/8 inches
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Ron SandfordPearl River Delta Bananastitled and stamped with artist's sealpen and ink10 1/2 x 14 3/4 in
26.7 x 37.5 cm -
Ron SandfordMousa Broch Vstamped with artist's sealwatercolour, pencil and ink22 1/2 x 28 5/8 inches
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Ron SandfordPapil Bay, Cullivoestamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper21 x 24 inches
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Ron SandfordOn Papil Beach, Cullivoestamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper20 1/2 x 22 7/8 inches
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Ron SandfordPapil Snowstamped with artist's sealpen, ink and watercolour17 x 26 inches
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Ron SandfordMigga Ness by Breiwick, North Yellstamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper27 x 27 3/8 in
68.6 x 69.5 cm -
Ron SandfordNorthern Lights, Cullivoe, Yellstamped with artist's sealpen, ink and watercolour26 1/4 x 30 1/4 in
66.7 x 76.8 cm -
Ron SandfordIn a 'boatie hoose' II, Mid Yell Voestamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper27 3/4 x 28 inches
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Ron SandfordBluemull Bouquetstamped with artist's sealpen, ink and watercolour26 1/2 x 21 1/4 inches
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Ron SandfordPolytunnel Visionstamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper17 3/4 x 25 1/4 inches
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Ron SandfordSt. Olaf Cullivoe or 'To Work is to Pray'stamped with artist's sealmixed media on canvas31 1/2 x 39 3/8 inches
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Ron SandfordThe last of the flitboat 'Rose' Istamped with artist's sealpencil, pen and ink15 7/8 x 19 3/4 inches
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Ron SandfordThe last of the flitboat 'Rose' IIstamped with artist's sealpen and ink17 3/8 x 17 3/8 inches
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Ron SandfordCullivoe Galley Shed Istamped with artist's sealpen, ink and watercolour19 x 24 3/8 inches
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Ron SandfordCullivoe Galley Shed II, 2004signed, inscribed and dated '04, stamped with artist's sealpen, ink and watercolour18 3/8 x 23 1/2 inches
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Ron SandfordCullivoe Galley Shed III, 2004signed, inscribed and dated '04, stamped with artist's sealpen, ink and watercolour18 5/8 x 23 7/8 inches
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Ron SandfordGalley Shed IVstamped with artist's sealpen, ink and watercolour27 5/8 x 31 1/8 inches
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Ron SandfordKitchen Tablestamped with artist's sealpencil, pen and ink16 3/4 x 20 3/8 inches
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Ron SandfordBluemull Whale Vertebrastamped with artist's sealprint11 x 8 1/2 in
27.9 x 21.6 cmunique print -
Ron SandfordOrchidssigned and stamped with artist's sealmixed media on paper26 1/4 x 21 inches