ABERDEEN, Scotland, May 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Alan Hayman is one of Scotland's leading landscape and wildlife artists. This month, Tolquhon Gallery in Aberdeenshire is hosting his first solo exhibition in 5 years. The exhibition opens on Sunday 11 May and continues until Tuesday 3 June. There are seventy paintings in the exhibition, demonstrating the breadth of Hayman's work.

The artist has lived in some of the most remote and spectacular parts of Scotland and these are where he loves to paint - both the landscape and the creatures which inhabit that landscape. He immerses himself in the landscape and its inhabitants. How many artists have mastered taxidermy? Alan Hayman for one. He has taught himself taxidermy in order to understand the anatomy of the birds and animals he paints.

Hayman was brought up in Montrose, on the east coast of Scotland, revelling in the huge variety of birdlife on the mud flats and beaches of Montrose Basin. He was drawing and painting while his classmates were still playing with toy trains and he has never stopped. He went on to teach himself drawing and painting techniques in oils and acrylics and he has lived as an artist all his life. His work is held in collections worldwide. He says, 'Painting is my life. If anything is certain, it is that I was born to paint.'

This major exhibition captures the wild places of Scotland, both seascapes and landscapes. Hayman lived for more than twenty years in Glen Lyon, in Highland Perthshire. He now lives in remote Ardnamurchan where his studio overlooks the Sound of Mull. In winter, it is a two and a half hour round trip by car to the nearest store. Life in summer is easier, with Tobermory just a short ten minutes away by boat. His ambition is now to buy a bigger boat to allow him to sail further. He dreams of exploring St Kilda and some of the more remote islands of the Shetlands sometime in the future, but that is another story.

It is the natural world which fascinates Hayman and the birds and animals which inhabit wild places. His environment is everything. From tiny finches to majestic golden eagles, tawny owls to red deer, all are subjects for his canvas.

Joan Ross of Tolquhon Gallery said, 'The range and quality of Alan's work is superb. He can capture the essence of a butterfly as well as a buzzard. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to mount this exciting exhibition at Tolquhon and we are looking forward to a very busy few weeks.'

Note

Tolquhon Gallery is one of the longest established galleries in Scotland. It was opened in 1987 by artist Danny Ross and his wife, Joan, in order to promote Scottish art. They hold between six and eight exhibitions each year, showing leading Scottish artists as well as young artists emerging from art school.

Alan Hayman will be at the gallery for the opening of the exhibition on Sunday 11 May.

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IMAGES - Hi Res versions available

1 Alan Hayman in his studio

2 Grouse and Deer

3 Kingfisher

4 Arctic Terns

Contact:

Joan Ross
Tolquhon Gallery
Tarves
Ellon
Aberdeenshire
AB41 7LP

Tel: +44(0)1651-842343
Email: art@tolquhon-gallery.co.uk

http://www.tolquhon-gallery.co.uk

SOURCE Tolquhon Gallery