About The Artist

Gordon Irving’s passion for painting has been the foundation that has established his strong body of awards winning work.Exquisite inspirations of artistic genius such as that of Gustav Klimt, Impressionists, Degas, Monet and Seurat, and also the paintings of Rembrandt,Vermeer and Lucien Freud have inspired him to become the successful painter he is today. "Having painted all my life, I have painted every day for more than 6 years now. My easel is rarely empty. I grew up in Ayr in South Ayrshire, Scotland and later attended Newcastle College of Arts & Technology, although with regard to my artwork I am largely self-taught,” explains Irving. An honours graduate of the University of Glasgow, Gordon says, “Since returning to live in Ayr a few years ago, I have mainly, though not exclusively painted portraits in oils, acrylics and pastels. My work has been exhibited in various venues including two one-man shows in The Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine ; the Maclaurin Galleries, Rozelle, Ayr, and The Greenheart Gallery, Ayr." “Having worked in electronics for several years, I served as a parish minister for over 10 years, then re-trained as a secondary school teacher, says Gordon Irving. I finally came to realise that Art is where my heart is, hence my change of career path to become a Fine Artist. “I work from my home studio in Prestwick, and over the past few years I have been invited as a practising artist to take Art classes in various local Ayrshire schools. Reveals Gordon: “My work sells regularly on the international market. A portrait of Leonard Cohen sold to a buyer in Sydney, Australia and the same collector commissioned a portrait of Audrey Hepburn. Both paintings are now in their new home Down Under. One of my portraits of John Lennon was purchased by a lady in Massachusetts, U.S.A. and a portrait of Bob Dylan now hangs in the home of a collector in Quebec. One of my portraits of Joni MItchell was purchased by a Danish buyer, and I have just dispatched a portrait commission to a buyer in Norway. In Scotland I have sold portraits of Billy Connolly and Eddi Reader to collectors in Kilmarnock; Leonard Cohen to an Ayr buyer, and The Dalai Lama “The Art of Happiness” which sold at the Maclaurin Gallery to a Girvan collector. ” Irving's oils and acrylics painting and pastel pencil works express his love of vibrant colours and light and shade.