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Barbara Davis Rae CBE RA FRSE (b. 1943) studied in Edinburgh in the 1960’s, where she was awarded a travel scholarship to study in France and Spain. She was elected President of the Society of Scottish Artists in 1983 and became a Member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1992.
Through the varied use of bold composition, strong contrast and richly textured painted and collaged surfaces Barbara Rae evokes a memorable atmosphere in all her work. At first glance, Rae’s paintings seem like planes of abstracted colour, but once your eyes adjust you can make out rural landscapes and industrial architecture. Harbours and coastlines are prominent in her paintings, where rocks become ships, and trees become electricity pylons.
Rae’s work has been included in solo and group exhibitions, both nationally and internationally, and is included in private collections in Britain, Europe and the USA, as well as in many public and corporate collections.
This etching, part of a set of four (including “Dark Ice Floes”, “Light on Peel Sound” and “Sea Ice – Illulissat”) is inspired by the artists namesake (but no relation) Arctic explorer Dr. John Rae. Made after one of Rae’s several journeys by ship to the Arctic, she will photograph her subject matter and often make sketches and small paintings in her cabin in which form the inception of her larger works on her return.
Lancaster Sound is a body of water in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located between Devon Island and Baffin Island, forming the eastern entrance to the Parry Channel and the Northwest Passage.
image rights: Copyright the artist.
