Donald Macdonald - Paper People

"I was born and raised in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, off the North West coast of Scotland. I grew up as part of a single parent family and spent most of my school holidays with relatives in a very small village on the East coast of the island. It was here that my interest in art began. I found a huge collection of encyclopaedias in a damp run down old cottage and I remember being amazed by the incredible images, I would spend hours drawing them.

I continued studying art through school but when the restrictions of island life became too frustrating to a young man, I joined the Army at 16.

Spendin​g a short time in the Scottish Infantry (though an incredible experience), made me realise how much I needed to paint. On completing Army training I left to study at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen and have painted ever since."

PAPER PEOPLE

"As a painter I have always been fascinated by the contrast of photo-realistic painting working in harmony with something much freer ... looser on the same canvas, how opposites can create something 'else', something new.

My 'Paper People' paintings are an extension of this concept, painted sketches interacting with realistically painted objects portraying moments in life. I think it is very important for my work to create emotion and feeling for the viewer, to be able to work and communicate on different levels and not just the visual.

I take my inspiration from the world around me, my son, my family, music, the sea, emotions, feelings, everything really. It all goes in to my paintings. I physically re-create these experiences or ideas on a small scale using paper and everyday objects which I photograph and use as a reference for my paintings."

Donald's paintings are held in many private collections worldwide. In addition to this he was selected as the Scottish Representative for the Johnson and Mead International Exhibition USA, and in 2009 his painting 'Broken Heart' was accepted in to the B.P Portrait Award Exhibition. He recently exhibited a commissioned painting in the Imperial War Museum in Manchester and in 2013 he won a place in the 7th Figurativas Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, held in the European Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona.