EDINBURGH.- This summer, the Royal Scottish Academy presents Constructed Narratives: Three Academicians, an exhibition of work by Aberdeen-born artists Lennox Dunbar RSA, Ian Howard RSA and Arthur Watson PPRSA.

Constructed Narratives was first shown at Aberdeen Art Gallery in winter 2023, and this new iteration of the exhibition focuses on the significance of construction, whether physical or implied. Dunbar, Howard and Watson each use building, layering and installation in different ways to create their own narratives, and works on view explore how these themes have shaped their careers.

Four North East Artists, an exhibition curated by Arthur Watson PPRSA for the Scottish Arts Council’s Fruitmarket Gallery in 1983 has acted as the starting point for this presentation of Constructed Narratives. Four North East Artists brought together works by painters Dunbar and Howard alongside sculptors Fred Bushe RSA and Frank Pottinger RSA. At the time, the four artists were all based in the northeast of Scotland and exploring the notion of construction.

Lennox Dunbar RSA's mixed media paintings explore the notion of ‘place,’ usually by incorporating objects from his locale. These elements have included tools and components from agricultural machinery – hints of the historic and contemporary industry and rural way of life surrounding him in Aberdeenshire. Drawing on the iconography of the north east of Scotland, Dunbar reflects the sense of a place through glimmers of objects and shapes, creating his own form of archaeology by layering, honing and adjusting a work.

Ian Howard RSA’s practice incorporates painting, drawing and printmaking, and focuses on themes including art and science, alchemical symbolism, hermeticism, emblems, medieval and Renaissance iconography. In the 1980s Howard was Lecturer in Painting at Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen, and he was Principal of Edinburgh College of Art from 2001 to 2011.

Arthur Watson PPRSA has been a highly influential voice in Scottish contemporary art for the best part of half a century. Watson studied Printmaking and Printed Textiles at Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen. In 1974, he founded Peacock Printmakers and he was a founding board member of both the Scottish Sculpture Workshop and the 369 Gallery. Primarily working in printmaking, installation and performance art, Watson’s practice is informed by ephemeral elements within Scottish culture and folk tradition. Watson was President of the Royal Scottish Academy from 2012 to 2018.

Flora La Thangue, Head of Programme at the Royal Scottish Academy says:
‘We are delighted to present this important exhibition by three of our acclaimed Academicians for our visitors in Edinburgh this summer. Lennox, Ian and Arthur each work in highly recognisable styles which may seem to have little in common at first glance, but Constructed Narratives shows their practices to emerge from shared interests in building, layering and form that foregrounds the role of the artist as creator, inventor and pioneer.’

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue published by Aberdeen Art Gallery as well as a new special edition portfolio featuring a limited edition print by each exhibiting artist. Artworks will be available for sale.