John Houston

John Houston is recognised as a major figure in Scottish painting of the last half century. Born in 1930, he studied at Edinburgh College of Art, where he subsequently taught for many years. Houston remained committed to his own work throughout his time at Edinburgh and successfully forged his career as an artist. Houston’s art is renowned for its bold, expressionistic treatment of his preferred subject matter, most often the Scottish landscape, which he paints with intense feeling. His use of gestural brushstrokes and vibrant colours enables him to capture the atmospheric mood of any setting. This book accompanies an exhibition that marks that artist’s seventy-fifth birthday. Philip Long discusses Houston’s career and his approach to his art in an illuminating interview.