"Love your art"
In many ways Duncan Pettigrew was a typical adolescent full of youthful enthusiasm and confidence. Art was his passion and although his most productive period only spanned a couple of years, he left behind enough works to fill up several gallery spaces.
Self-portrait (with hat) oil, 100x76cm
(aged 16 when at Edinburgh Academy)
image courtesy of J and M Pettigrew
The wealth of details in his works reveal to us his sharp observation skills and his delight in putting together carefully conceived and balanced compositions livened up with boldly contrasting light and dark tones for dramatic effect.
Self-portrait (with trophy) oil, 110x76cm
(aged 17 when at Edinburgh Academy,
inspired by the award of the Burness Trophy for Painting)
image courtesy of J and M Pettigrew
This fusion of eagerness and talent gave rise to the prodigious pace that defined his working process. His father recalls that in the time it took him to do half a drawing, Duncan would do four or five.
Sack Series No 1 pastel, 53x41cm
(still life in LSA studio)
(still life in LSA studio)
AiH Collection
While in hospital he received a visit from John Bellany who was a friend of his mother from art college. Bellany gave him a large compendium of Picasso’s works with the hand-written dedication “Love your Art”.
Duncan spent the following year at Leith School of Art (LSA). In this nurturing environment and with renewed strength, he was able to enjoy this most creative time to the full and never wasted one moment. Typically the four studies in the Sack Series currently with Art in Healthcare were executed as a single studio assignment.
Sack Series no 3 pencil, 53x41cm
(still life in LSA studio)
(still life in LSA studio)
AiH Collection
In 1994 Philip Archer and the Pettigrew family put together a show to celebrate Duncan’s artworks that filled the walls of LSA. A book entitled Love your Art accompanied the exhibition and helped raise money for the Leukaemia and Bone Marrow Transplant Fund at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
Self-portrait (Sunday) charcoal, 130x75cm
image courtesy of J and M Pettigrew
“Do not go gentle into that goodnight,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
Martine Foltier Pugh is a freelance writer and visual artist based in Edinburgh
With thanks to Jennifer and Maurice Pettigrew and to Philip Archer.
With thanks to Soosan Danesh for photographing the self-portraits above.
Love your art is available for borrowing from Edinburgh libraries.
Related link
Leith School of Art http://www.leithschoolofart.co.uk/
And special thanks to Balfour Beatty Investments and Arts & Business Scotland for their financial support, which has enabled Art in Healthcare to produce 18 Artist Uncovered blog posts and accompanying video productions.
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