Alan Davie b. 1920

Alan Davie was born in 1920 in Grangemouth, Scotland and studied at Edinburgh College of Art between 1937 and 1940. Following service in the army (1941 - 46) Davie undertook a travelling scholarship in Italy where he was impressed by the work of Jackson Pollock and other American Abstract Expressionists at Peggy Guggenheim's collection in Venice. In 1963 he was awarded the international painting prize at the Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil and made CBE in 1972. He lives and works in Hertford, England.

works in the collection - 6

PAC/094

Davie's work of the 1950s combines improvised painterly brushwork, mythic symbolism and geometric forms in paintings that suggest organic generation and strange ritual. His adoption of painting rapidly on canvas laid on the floor was a direct result of seeing Jackson Pollock's work in the late 40s.

Untitled, 1956


PAC/098

His images draw on the symbolism of many cultures and the circle is a potent form in both Christian and non-Christian religions Ð representing infinity and divinity.

Magic Circles, 1989


PAC/095

Celtic Dreamscape, 1996


PAC/001

Alan Davie made two visits to Orkney in the 1990s. As he was flying in to Kirkwall airport on his second visit he realised that many of the shapes he had been using in his works relating to mediaeval maps had been influenced by his earlier trip to Orkney. Although very much a map of the imagination, a clear relationship can be seen with historic maps such as the Carta Marina held by the Orkney Museum.

Island Phantasy, 1999


PAC/096

Energy is Delight, 2001