Colin Gibson, wildlife artist; born November 5, 1907, died April 7,1998
NATURE artist Colin Gibson has died after a short illness, aged 90. He was best known for his paintings of the East of Scotland countryside, and his work as an illustrator with Oxford University Press. He was also a prolific writer, publishing several books and working for over 40 years as a newspaper columnist.
Born in Arbroath in 1907, the son of a Christian missionary, Mr Gibson first won praise at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen where he won several prizes and travelling scholarships. This allowed him to travel to Spain and Italy after graduation, where his paintings of Venice are considered among his best.
In 1933 he took a post as an assistant art master at Dundee High School, where he taught for 12 years. He was presented with the Guthrie award from the Royal Scottish Academy for the best work by a young Scottish artist, in recognition of a portrait of his wife Lisbeth, whom he married in 1938.
His most famous commission came in 1969, when the Earl of Strathmore asked him to paint Prince Charles's favourite salmon hole in the Dee as a coming-of-age for the Prince. His work hangs in several other royal collections.
His popularity was emphasised when Dundee's Barrack Street Museum staged a major retrospective exhibition in 1988. The keeper of art for Dundee Clara Young, who helped arrange the exhibition, described some of his best work as quite masterful.
Mr Gibson was also the official artist to University College, Dundee, where he took part in biological expeditions to the Hebrides. In 1979 the University awarded him an honorary Master of Science degree in tribute to his contribution to art and nature in Scotland.
He was a long-time contributor to the Peoples Friend and the Dundee Courier. His books include Historic Dundee and The Lonely Furrow, with his last book being published in 1991. He also collaborated with Perth-based poet William Soutar on a childrens book of verse.
A widower, he is survived by a son and a daughter.
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