EDINBURGH.- The Royal Scottish Academy is showing After Gillies, an exhibition exploring the lasting impact of the work of Sir William Gillies on the current membership of the Royal Scottish Academy. Upon his death in 1973, William Gillies RSA RA (1898-1973) bequeathed his entire estate to the RSA. This generous bequest, comprising hundreds of artworks, materials, archives, and more, has allowed the RSA to perpetuate Gillies’ legacy through research, publications and exhibitions. Today, the bequest continues to fuel various initiatives, such as the RSA New Contemporaries Prize, £2,000 for an emerging artist; the Sir William Gillies Memorial Lecture, bringing influential and educational speakers to the RSA each year; and the annual Gillies Bursary, a fund to support projects by members of the RSA.

Notably, the Gillies Bursary has supported over 80 Academicians over the past five decades. After Gillies showcases the diverse outcomes of several projects funded by this bursary. Additionally, the displayed works pay homage to Gillies' influence, drawing inspiration from his affinity for the sublimely desolate landscape of the east coast and the potent symbolism of his solitary trees.

The exhibition celebrates Gillies' legacy, and showcase works by a number of Academicians.

Sir William George Gillies RSA (1898 – 1973)

Born in Haddington, Sir William Gillies RSA studied at Edinburgh College of Art. He travelled widely, returning to the college as an accomplished artist and tutor, where he taught for more than 40 years until his retirement from his position as Principal in 1966. He came under the influence of Cubism after studying in Paris in 1923, and experimented with various forms of European Modernism from the 1930s, which he absorbed into his own distinctive style. The work of his mature period is characterised by an energetic and expressionistic application of paint. Gillies is renowned for his landscape and still life paintings, but his few painted portraits reveal some of the complexities of his personal life.

Royal Scottish Academy

Founded in 1826, the Royal Scottish Academy supports art and architecture in Scotland. We are an independent, non-governmental institution, governed by our Members to operate on a charitable basis. We run our year-round programme of exhibitions, artist opportunities and events from our base at the Mound, Edinburgh, and care for our nationally recognised collection. We support artists and architects through awards, residencies, scholarships and bursaries. In 2026 the RSA will celebrate its 200th anniversary. Forbes, John Houston and Edward Summerton.

Royal Scottish Academy
After Gillies
Saturday 3 February - Sunday 3 March 2024