Mhairi’s distinctive style developed from her training at Glasgow School of Art under Barbara Rae and James Robertson, strong exponents of the Scottish School. McGregor’s own place in this field was confirmed in 1999 when she was elected as a member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour.
Although working largely in oils, watercolour is an important part of her preliminary work, and through her use of colour she also reflects the founding principals of the RSW, to “encourage the bold, free and colourful qualities of Scottish Painting”, those “characterised by a freedom of approach, a bold confidence in handling its materials and a robust way with colour”.
“I’m always trying to get the most out of the few colours I use and get them to play off against each other. I’ve moved away from brushwork too. I like to layer up the paint; slab it on until two strong colours are shining through”. – Mhairi McGregor 2008
Mhairi’s emotional response to subjects comes through in her paintings. Initial sketches are developed into more abstract works and her landscapes evoke a sense of place affected by a rich, fluid impasto paint surface.
Mhairi has exhibited widely in Scotland, England and Australia. She first exhibited with Gorstella Gallery in May 2007 and we are delighted to be showing her work once again at Gorstella Gallery.
