Ian McWhinnie
Moments and Moods
12 SEPT - 3 OCT 2026
The Castle Gallery is delighted to host another exhibition of Ian McWhinnie’s work, continuing our long-running association since 2002. His first exhibition here was of ceramics and paintings, as he turned full-time artist after years in the teaching profession. The students’ loss has been our gain!
These days Ian is concentrating on painting (the kiln is packed away). This exhibition of thirteen new oil paintings explores the relationship of the human figure to the landscape. The imagery evokes the inspiring landscape of the Moray Coast and its awesome geology and history.
The Island, oil on board, 67 x 57cm
Ian says: “There is a magical quality here whether you experience it along the shore, looking out to sea or exploring the forest and harbours.”
The Distant Coast, oil on board, 34 x 31cm
The Blue Shore, oil on board, 40 x 43cm
Ian’s compositions combine layered backdrops of architecture or the natural environment in front of which he places his characters to set up scenarios reminiscent of a theatre stage. He is aiming for a sense of mystery – sometimes dark, but hopefully with a resulting beauty.
Burghead Arch, oil on board, 23 x 22cm
Portsoy Portrait, oil on board, 35 x 33cm
Ian’s compositions combine layered backdrops of architecture or the natural environment in front of which he places his characters to set up scenarios reminiscent of a theatre stage. He is aiming for a sense of mystery – sometimes dark, but hopefully with a resulting beauty.
Girl at the Harbour, oil on board, 43 x 40cm
River Portrait, oil on board, 29 x 28cm
Ian likes to travel and explore places from the inspiring Moray Coast to the warm climes of the Mediterranean and the USA. His native Glasgow, where he studied at art college from 1970-74, also features in his paintings as do musicians – being a guitarist himself.
The Musical Landscape, oil on board, 40 x 43cm
Window on Sienna, oil on board,
22 x 23cm
Summer in the City, oil on board,
29 x 28cm
New York Parade, oil on board,
35 x 33cm
Ian likes to travel and explore places from the inspiring Moray Coast to the warm climes of the Mediterranean and the USA. His native Glasgow, where he studied at art college from 1970-74, also features in his paintings as do musicians – being a guitarist himself.
To accompany these distinctive paintings by Ian McWhinnie we have stoneware vessels by Steve Smith and sculptures by Gary Webster. It is particularly appropriate to be showing Gary’s superb sculptures alongside Ian’s Moray Coast paintings as Gary hand carves in serpentinite, which is a kind of metamorphic rock found in various parts of Scotland including the Moray Coast.
Herdmanston Hare, Scottish serpentine, 31 x 43 x 15cm
Gary Webster studied sculpture at Edinburgh College of Art and now sculpts in his garden workshop near Inverness. Each piece is hand-crafted using hammer and chisels, then finished with a multitude of grades of sandpaper to bring out the rich colour and patterning of the serpentine. He likes to carve natural forms such as birds and animals but he also likes to push the boundaries and has recently completed some babies.
Preening Swan, Scottish serpentine, 23 x 35 x 14cm
Soybean Baby, Scottish serpentine, 23 x 30 x 20cm
Selection of ceramics by Steve Smith
