Here at Callaghans we are greatly honoured to display a stunning piece of art by the incredibly talented and world-renowned William Scott, CBE (1913-1989). It is with delight that we introduce this oil-on-canvas painting, titled ‘Red Still Life’, currently hanging in the gallery.

About William Scott

William Scott is globally recognised as one of the most influential abstract art pioneers of his generation, having gained international renown for his unique art style. Though born in Greenock, Scotland, he was brought up in his father’s hometown of Enniskillen in Ulster, Northern Ireland. From an early age Scott took art classes and developed a passion for art. Furthermore in 1928 he enrolled at the Belfast School of Art, moving to London three years later to take up a place at the Royal Academy School, initially in sculpture before transferring to painting.

In 1946 Scott took up the position of Senior Painting Master at the Bath Academy of Art until his success as a full-time painter allowed him to give up full-time teaching in 1956.

In 1958 he represented Great Britain at the Venice Biennale, one of many occasions on which his work was chosen by the British Council to be exhibited abroad. In 1966, in recognition of his contribution to the arts, William Scott was made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year’s Honours List. Furthermore, he subsequently received honorary doctorates from the Royal College of Art in London, Queen’s University Belfast and Trinity College Dublin.

A major retrospective at the Tate Gallery in 1972 included more than 125 paintings dating from 1938 onwards. William Scott was made an Associate member of the Royal Academy in 1977, and in 1984 he was elected a Royal Academician. Scott’s paintings can be found in public collections around the world, including the Tate, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Musée National d’Art Moderne, Paris, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. 

William Scott Artwork

William Scott is such an important and influential artist that it is an honour to exhibit one of his works. ‘Red Still Life’ dates from 1953-1954 (the exact year is yet unknown, however a date of 1953 seems more likely given its closeness of the abstract works of that year) and features a stunningly vivid crimson providing a backdrop for a series of carefully placed abstract shapes which defy traditional conventions of space, object and dimension. 

Important provenance includes a feature in ‘The Paintings of William Scott, ARTS vol. 31, no.2, November 1956, p. 38, illustrated in black-and-white (dated 1954)’. 

If you’re interested in this work by the incredible William Scott, come into the gallery in Shrewsbury for a coffee, or get in touch with one of our experts online.