Angus McEwan is an international award-winning painter of watercolour realism and the relationship of time and its effect on material objects. Angus is an elected member of many art societies, including the world’s oldest, the Royal Watercolour Society (RWS); the Australian watercolour Society (AWI); the National watercolour Society, USA (NWS); The Royal Scottish Society of watercolours (RSW); the International Masters of Watercolour Association, China (IMWA); the Royal Glasgow Institute (RGI) and the San Diego Watercolour Society (SDWS).

 

A brand ambassador for Daniel Smith paints, Angus has won prizes in many countries, and is highly sought after for workshops and Demonstrations Internationally (in person) as well as online.

 

He has work in many private and public collections around the globe and has been a judge for many international competitions, including President of the jury (2022) for Marche d’Aqua, Italy, John Constable Prize in Lima, Peru, the Abu Rawash Prize, Egypt, IMWA competitions, China, as well as numerous other International watercolour competitions.

 

Artist Statement

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I work mainly with watercolour & mixed media to create highly detailed and textural works of Art. I draw my inspiration from neglected and decaying surfaces, buildings and objects that convey a sense of passing time. I reinterpret my subject through strong colours and a fascination with external detail. 

I particularly enjoy exploring surface materials both natural & man-made using water-based paint and handmade papers which help me convey the sense of the precariousness of human existence through a fragile material.

I work with a series of unique techniques especially created by myself to portray crumbling facades, worn, decrepit old doors and windows with an attention to detail verging on hyper realism that masks a fascination for abstract qualities inherent in the subject matter.  Working with paint thickly and occasionally thinly, with an endless series of optical mixing and layering, utilising every inch of my handmade papers working methodically using strong tones and colours to describe my subjects. 

I also love working the paint to help me create new and exciting textures by dropping paint from a height, splashing, spraying, dabbing, and stippling, throwing, printing, and sponging, I develop the painting in an organic manner making use of serendipitous mark making.

To fully honour my topics, I employ fine detail in my work and have found this has become an increasing fascination for me. 

Watercolour helps me to develop that crisp, sharp, calligraphic quality that I enjoy using which is perfect for describing the transient nature of my subject matter.

Angus McEwan

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