Donald Sinclair Swan 1918-2004 oil - Clyde Steamer - Marine painting Dated 1976
Swan was born in Glasgow, joining the merchant navy at 17, and afterwards the Royal Navy. For a period he became a fisherman, then a mate on a commercial sailing barge. Recovering from a long illness, he took up painting and studied at schools of art at Glasgow and Arbroath. By 1949 Donald had moved to Cornwall, where he studied pottery with Bernard LEACH and Michael LEACH, before setting up his own pottery at Castle-an-Dynas with his Cornish wife, Elizabeth. Many of his portraits feature his wife. During his sojourn in Cornwall he also assisted at the Newlyn Art Gallery, volunteering to help curate exhibitions, and he also took students of his own (one of whom was David DYER). In 1972, he returned to Scotland, where he continued to paint portraits but also developed his maritime painting, becoming known for his historical clipper ships (incl 'Cutty Sark' which hangs on that ship) and other forms of shipping and naval pieces. Back in Cornwall by 2001, Martin Val Baker welcomed a large solo show of the paintings of Donald Swan at the Rainyday Gallery on Market Jew Street, Penzance in February and March of 2002.
Details
Oil on board
size framed approx = 19 x 16 inches
Condition is good as per photographs, has been varnished by the artist
Fully signed
Dated 1976
Needs reframing