JOHN G. C. BURNETT (1916-2009)

'Red, Yellow, White, Blue and Black'

Signed and dated April 91

Oil on canvas

Burnett was born and raised in Aberdeen and he entered the Aberdeen School of Art in 1938 where his fellow students included Alberto Morocco. He was taught by Ian Fleming RSA and became a committed recorder of life in the city. His studies were interrupted by the war and he joined up becoming an officer in search light Battalion. He was stationed in Kent during the Doddlebug raids of 1944 and painted many scenes in and around the area. During this period he became interested in Surrealism and the art movement it engendered, painted in this fashion during the war period. When asked for the reason behind this he commented that the uncertainties of the war and existence itself made me question life and it meeting'.

After the war he returned to Aberdeen to finish his studies at the Art School, after graduating he taught at notable schools in Scotland including Cults academy.

John exhibited widely in Scotland and England including the Royal Academy and the Royal Scottish Academy. Notable exhibits were 'Spring landscape' autumn at the RA in 1945 and 'Christmas Roses' at the RA in 1957. Like many fine artists of this period, he was presented with a situation at the end of like many fine artist of this period, he was presented with a situation at the end of his training that meant you either taught or staved, Given that he was newly married the first option seemed the natural one and he went into art teaching. While he continued to paint and exhibit, a great deal of his time was taken up with the grind of working in a school environment. Time to find a wider market for his work through a London or Edinburgh dealer was limited and so he slipped from the public view like many talented artists.

27" x 21"

69 cm x 53 cm

Stock no. MB 2221