John Bellany CBE RA (1942 - 2013), five abstract oil on canvas fragments, 1981

John Bellany CBE RA (1942 – 2013)
Five abstract painting fragments
Oil on canvas, various sizes (measurements below)
Several of them signed and dated: ‘John Bellany / 1981’

John Bellany was a highly influential Scottish artist who reimagined the figurative style with bold colour and inventive compositions. He trained initially at the Edinburgh College of Art before relocating to London to study at the Royal College of Art. His upbringing by the sea affected the settings of many of his paintings throughout his career. His most celebrated paintings depict harbour scenes featuring humble fishermen mixed with complex allegorical themes, emphasising the hardship they often faced. His paintings can be seen in all major Scottish public art galleries and many national museums.

In the early 1980s, Bellany shared a studio with artist William Mills (1923 - 1997) on Berry Street in Clerkenwell, London. This period in London seems to be when he experimented most with abstraction, probably under the influence of artists like Mills, to whom he gifted these fragmented paintings in 1981. They were then, in turn, gifted by Mills to the previous owner.

The paintings remain in excellent condition and all have been mounted and framed uniformly. Available separately, but I would prefer to keep them as a set as they’ve always been kept together.

Image 2
Fragment dimensions: 37 x 28 cm.
Framed dimensions: 60 x 45 cm.

Image 3
Fragment dimensions: 60 x 22 (top)/32 (bottom) cm.
Framed dimensions: 88 x 63 cm.

Image 4
Fragment dimensions: 30 x 17 cm.
Framed dimensions: 60 x 45 cm.

Image 5
Fragment dimensions: 16.5 x 40.5 cm. 
Framed dimensions: 46 x 61 cm.

Image 6
Fragment dimensions: 30 x 17 cm.
Framed dimensions: 60 x 45 cm.