Two works by a celebrated Arbroath artist are to return home after they were given to Angus by a major arts academy.
The Royal Scottish Academy has donated a pair of William Littlejohn paintings in a tribute to the artist. The major announcement came at the conclusion of a retrospective exhibition of his work in Arbroath, in honour of the town’s famous son, who died in 2006.
Littlejohn’s pieces will now be proudly displayed at Arbroath High School and the town’s library.
Colin Greenslade, the programme director of the Royal Scottish Academy, made his announcement at the end of a talk about the artist in the library on Monday.
“In 2006, William Littlejohn bequeathed his studio to the Royal Scottish Academy,” said Mr Greenslade.
“In addition, a separate sum of money was also bequeathed to establish a new watercolour award the RSA William Littlejohn Bequest Watercolour Award which is now administered and disbursed by the RSA to Scottish artists working in watercolour.
” In response to Bill’s kind gift, the RSA are now in the process of distributing gifts of prominent works by Bill to prominent Scottish art collections, and we are pleased to announce these gifts to Arbroath.
“The Royal Scottish Academy has a national remit and, as such, strives to develop interesting and engaging exhibitions and artists’ opportunities with partners across Scotland.”
The painting which has been donated to Angus Council for display in the library is Windmill And Screen, which was painted in 1988.
The second gift will go to Arbroath High, where the artist taught during his early career. It is an oil called Still Life And Harbour from 1964.
Angus Council convener of neighbourhood services Jim Millar, said, “We are delighted and honoured to receive this gift from the RSA and pleased that this prestigious work, Windmill And Screen, will be on permanent display in the artist’s home town for all to see and admire.”
William Littlejohn was born in Arbroath in 1929. He studied fine art at Dundee College of Art before teaching at Arbroath High School. He later became lecturer in, and then head of, fine art at Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen.
On his death, he left the entire contents of his studio to the Royal Scottish Academy. As well as numerous oils, watercolours and drawings there was also a wealth of sketchbooks, notebooks and objects some of which appear in his paintings.
His working environment, where his iconic images were created, was full of a lifetime of collecting and influences: exquisite porcelain jugs and plates, woodblock prints from Japan, bonsai trees, lacquer boxes and paper kites.