{"product_id":"george-birrell-view-of-loch-arkaig-west-highlands","title":"George Birrell (born 1950) - View of Loch Arkaig, West Highlands","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n  \u003ch2\u003eGeorge Birrell (born 1950) - Acrylic on Board\u003c\/h2\u003e\n  \u003ch3\u003eView of Loch Arkaig, West Highlands\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eA tranquil West Highland landscape depicting the still waters of Loch Arkaig beneath a broad, cloud-filled sky. A red rowing boat rests at the water's edge in the foreground, providing a strong note of colour against the quieter blues, greens and russet browns of the surrounding hills. Slender birch trees frame the composition to the right, while reflections across the loch reinforce the sense of calm and distance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eThis appears to be an early work by George Birrell and is notably more naturalistic than the highly stylised architectural and coastal compositions for which he later became best known.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3\u003eAbout the Artist\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003eGeorge Birrell was born in Glasgow in 1950 and grew up in the city's West End. He studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1967 to 1971 and attended the Hospitalfield Summer School in 1970. After graduation, he taught art and design in Scottish schools for around a decade before becoming a full-time painter in 1980.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eBirrell is now best known for imaginative paintings of Scottish fishing villages, harbours and coastal architecture. His mature compositions are often developed from memory, combining different viewpoints rather than recording a single place literally. Strong architectural structure, simplified forms, compressed perspective and carefully judged contrasts of warm and cool colour became defining features of his work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eView of Loch Arkaig, West Highlands\u003c\/em\u003e is notably more naturalistic than the stylised architectural paintings for which Birrell is best known. Its softer landscape treatment, atmospheric distance and closely observed lochside setting suggest an earlier stage in his development, likely dating from the 1980s. The painting is undated, so this remains an informed assessment rather than a confirmed date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e George Birrell, born 1950\u003cbr\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e View of Loch Arkaig, West Highlands\u003cbr\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003eMedium:\u003c\/strong\u003e Acrylic on board\u003cbr\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003eSignature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Signed lower left\u003cbr\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003eArtwork size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 34 x 44 cm (13.4 x 17.3 inches)\u003cbr\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003eFrame size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 44 x 54 cm (17.3 x 21.3 inches)\u003cbr\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003eInscription:\u003c\/strong\u003e Artist's note to the reverse\u003cbr\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Private collection\u003cbr\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Art in very good condition. Frame shows light signs of handling but is deliberately distressed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Crag Bank Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54100409024850,"sku":"CBA-329a","price":545.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1078\/0904\/6866\/files\/IMG_2327.jpg?v=1785070107","url":"https:\/\/cragbankart.co.uk\/products\/george-birrell-view-of-loch-arkaig-west-highlands","provider":"Crag Bank Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}