John Archbold

About

John Archbold DA was born in 1954 Glasgow.

He studied at Glasgow School of Art in Drawing & Painting between 1972-76.  His early work was inspired by the city’s River Clyde and its shipbuilding which sadly has largely disappeared.  He was also introduced to life drawing and painting which he enjoyed greatly and still does today.

He attended Jordanhill College of Education and in 1977 he was appointed Itinerant Teacher of Art and Design on the Isle of Mull.

In 1983 he became Principal Teacher of Art and Design at Tobermory High School.  Throughout his teaching career he continued to develop his own work inspired by this beautiful island.

Archbold adopted the bluer light of the Hebrides and the rich variety of texture and colour presented by the sea and shore. This has resulted in powerful statements about the land and seascapes of Mull and the West Coast of Scotland.

A huge change from his Glasgow pieces.

He is a founder member of the Scottish Ruralists which were formed in 1993 during a painting trip around the Arisaig area.  This group of painters regularly meet and paint together at various locations mainly on the west coast.

John retired from teaching in 2010.  His work has further developed in different directions.  He works in a wide range of media and scale and with a variety of subject matter.  He has had the time to devote and to concentrate on the fundamental discipline of drawing and painting in the open air using various media.  This in turn has encouraged a fresh approach and a revitalisation of his studio pieces.

He enjoys experimenting and trying new ways of working.  He is associated with different media which he believes is due to his teaching career where he worked with his pupils in many disciplines using wide range of materials both 2D and 3D.

John has always painted and has been quite prolific since retirement from teaching.

He has also received many commissions from visitors and residents alike which he greatly welcomes,

• “This gives me a new challenge each time I take on a commission and often provides a different place to paint that perhaps I might not have considered”

John welcomes visitors to his studio in Lochdon on the Isle of Mull so drop in if you are ever there.

John Archbold, DA, studied at Glasgow School of Art in Drawing & Painting before attending Jordanhill College of Education.

In 1977 he was appointed Itinerant Teacher of Art and Design Isle of Mull. In 1983 he became Principal Teacher of Art and Design at Tobermory High. Throughout his teaching career he continued to develop his own work. John adopts the bluer light of the Hebrides and the rich variety of texture and colour presented by the sea and shore which has resulted in powerful statements about the land and seascapes of Mull and the West coast.

John retired from teaching in 2010, allowing him to paint full time and his work has further developed in different directions. He works with a range of subject matter, including seascapes, landscapes, townscapes, figure studies and portraiture. Recently he has focused on the fundamental discipline of drawing and painting in the open air using various media. This has encouraged a fresh approach and a revitalisation of his studio pieces.

John Archbold is a contemporary Scottish artist who studied at GSA. He produces works covering a range of subject matter.

Open studio and gallery space featuring framed and unframed works in a variety of media. You will see the artist at work, be it sketching or painting a large oil on canvas.