• ABOUT ME
    Information about the artist

HI,
I am Gordon Cockburn.

Bringing by-gone earas back to life

Gordon's talent in the visual arts has been commented on since his early childhood years. He has retained sketches of that period which show a creative apptitude and skill beyond his years. Not for him was the conventional route to hone his talents via art school.

His family's finances did not extend to further education. Gordon travelled and worked in a variety of settings while continuing to persue his calling in art.

Being self taught he embraced the advice, guidance, and support of his mentors : Bill Lockhart (Art Teacher); John Bratby; L.S.Lowery and Marcel Marceau, to name but a few.

Gordeon Cocknurn - Cockburn Gallery

Background

The Artist hails from a proud mining ancestry; with his father and forebears being steeped in all aspects of mining employment. His strong sense of identity, family, community, passions and emotions' are evidenced in his watercolours, ink drawings, pastels or oils. The observor cannot help but be provoked by his imagery. Over the decades Gordon's subject matter and style have varied depending upon his life experiences, his state of being and opportunities offered. Life for Gordon has not been dull.

Subject Matter

Gordon's subject matter landscapes, seascapes, mining, and buildings, bring to life a bygone era. His provocative Auschwitz collection (not a saleable work) continues to be well received and some say his most powerful work to date. From his travels he has produced studies of street scenes, nightlife and cultural life in Amsterdam, Venice, Paris, Turkey, Greece, and Poland. Gordon's portraits of the Massi people, in ink drawings, show this proud and beautiful ethnic group to perfection.

Influences

Gordon has shown and sold his work privately since his adolescent years. One of his first experiences of exhibiting his work occured whilst staying with relatives in the Liverpool area from 1958-59. Alonside visual art, Gordon, too, was caught up in the music of that city. He met the then young John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe at the now famous 'Cavern'. They too were exploring their creativity in visual art. A small quite derelict shop was rented and Gordon's work, alongside theirs, was exhibited. It was during this period he met the now rather infamous John Bratby.
Many artists have influenced and inspired Gordon; some he has been lucky enough to spend time with. Amongst those effecting his work are: Bratby, Grahame Sutherland, L.S Lowry, Marcel Marceau, Sheila Fell, Joan Eardley, early Scottish colourists, Josef Herman, Soutine, Picasso and Van Gogh.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

Art: the process of creating and appreciating has always been central to my being. It is in many ways how I interpret the world and experiences; be it a person, place or emotion. I have pursued this passion throughout my life in a rather unconventional manner; often juggling my desire to create, alongside other responsibilities -never an easy option for myself or those caught up in this compulsion. It is my hope that my art can be acknowledged and viewed by as varied an audience as possible, hopefully provoking and stimulating the viewer to a stirring of emotions and discussion: Never, if possible, indifference.

Charcoal 50
Indian Ink 95
Water Colour 45
Oils 63

The Gallery

Maybole, Ayrshire

The Cockburn Gallery is nestled in the ancient Carrick town of Maybole. It has successfully traded for the past 12 years, with artworks being purchased locally and worldwide. The proprietor and resident artist Mr Gordon Cockburn is a true son of Ayrshire; born in Maybole on 5th april 1944. The Cockburn Gallery allows the public access to his past and present works,alongside exhibits of early Scottish Colourists to contemporary art.

The gallery provides a vehicle for the yet undiscovered, talented, and predominatley Scottish artists of whom Mr Cockburn enthuses, and is keen to promote. The gallery greatly welcomes the public. Paintings rotate on a two monthly basis with various exhibitions held throughout the calander year.

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