John "Jack" Knox was born in Kirkintilloch in 1936. He studied Drawing and Painting at the Glasgow School of Art. Knox began teaching at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee in 1965 and was later appointed Head of Painting at Glasgow School of Art in 1981 until his retirement in 1992.
This is one of a series of paintings that Knox made in the 1980s when he returned from Fife to Glasgow. The series relates to the landscape and animals found along the West Highland Way. This one features a study of a Ptarmigan or Grouse. These birds featured frequently in his artworks at this period. This one shows an expansive Scottish moorland - with the trunks of two silver birches in the foreground on the banks of a river stream. Spiky grasses line the bank. Knox's interest has been taken by the big bird pecking at the river bank. The bird's reflection is captured on the surface of the water.
This is a large work painted on a canvas. The canvas is not glazed but has a simple wooden strip acting as a frame all around the sides. The simple wooden frame is original to the work. The canvas is primed and stretched on wooden stretchers.
It is signed Knox, lower right - and on the back, it has the title inscribed on the wooden stretcher: On the Moors
The palette consists of more muted shades of dark green, brown and dark blue for the sky and water - these were favoured colours used by the artist in the early-1980s. These earlier works by Knox and of this scale do not come on the market very often - this work is new to the market.
Dimensions: 44 x 48 1/2 inches (112 x 123 cm)
I bought this oil painting over 20 years ago at an auction in Edinburgh and has hung in my house for the last two decades. I have been rehanging some spaces - and sadly, this work has come down as part of the shuffle. I have taken a lot of pictures of the painting as it was taken down - these will give you an idea of its size and quality.
These large early works by Knox are now much sought after - and make high prices when they come to the market. My asking price for this one is a fair one. It is a work of museum quality and a similar composition from this period is in the collection of the Modern Art Gallery in Edinburgh.
UK Postage - please discuss! This will probably cost about £25 to post to you - due to its size and taking out insurance. We can deliver free in the central Scottish Region.