Wick artist’s fantastical Caithness castle scene chosen for international competition
A Wick artist who now resides in New York City has had a painting shortlisted for a prestigious watercolour competition in Italy.
Ian Charles Scott has used a famous Caithness castle as the foreboding backdrop of his work called ‘Sinclair and Girnigoe Resurgam’ which was chosen for the Biennial International Prize of Fabriano Watercolor 2024.
The painting includes enigmatic figures in archaic diving suits accompanied by an exotic pink spoonbill bird that is being rowed towards the grim, crumbling castle edifice. The atmosphere and tone of the work is reminiscent of Arnold Bocklin’s famous symbolist painting ‘The Isle of the Dead’.
Ian was one of 56 artists included in the competition which forms an exhibition currently on display at the Fabriano Paper and Watermark Museum. The Italian town is renowned for its papermaking tradition which has been documented since the 12th century and the museum focuses on handmade paper and watermark techniques from medieval Italy.
“I am concerned with the human imagination and its connection to lived reality,” reads the 66-year-old’s artistic statement.
“I paint in a realist style as I do not wish to alienate the viewer with any program of artistic conceptual mind control. I desire to give them freedom to explore and then allow them to unfold into a deeper relationship with the eternal.”
His work was chosen by artist Angus McEwan, president of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours, who said: “Scott’s work engaged the judges into speculating about the narrative of his painting Sinclair and Girnigoe Resurgam around the castle Sinclair Girnigoe outside of Wick.
“This fascinating painting engages the audience into considering the haunting imagery and the intellectual curiosity into the origins of the story the painting conjures.”
Stanislaw Zoladz, chairman of the competition’s jury, states: “The Fabriano museum Biennale has been recognised in the world as a very prestigious opportunity for artists to compete and exhibit.
“It is not easy to become one of the chosen artists, exhibiting and taking part in the Biennale. The quality of work exhibited is very high and many visitors will enjoy it.”
Sinclair and Girnigoe Resurgam will be on display in the Fabriano museum until the end of September 2024.