Studio RT Ltd

Description

This is the second in the small collection of works by Peter Barton that we have acquired and this oil on board represents a view of Beinn Alligin (985m), which is the easiest of the Torridon ridges to climb. Beinn Alligin means Mount of Beauty in Gaelic and in situated on Upper Loch Torridon, Ross and Cromarty, Highlands Region, Scotland. It has been signed by the artist, dated '88 and he has also signed, dated it and given the location on the back of the board.

Peter Barton was born in London in 1921. He was always interested in painting and was encouraged by his art master Wilfred Blunt. He was called up in WWII and served in the UK, Nigeria and Burma. Returning to the UK in 1946, he met and married Rosemary Bayly and they had 3 children.

He obtained admission to the London Medical School, where he achieved degrees in Medicine & Dentistry, further specialising in Oral & Maxillo-Facial surgery. He was appointed a consultant in Oxford. In his spare time he became a part time student at the John Cass School of Art.

During his time as a consultant, he continued to paint and had occasional exhibitions, but, at the age of 62, he resigned form surgery to become a full time painter. He bought a cottage in the Scottish Highlands at Shieldaig in the Torridon area and set up a studio there. He began clinmbing and exploring the local mountains and experimented until he found a unique style with which to represent their rugged majesty. This painting has been executed in this style. He also painted the cottages and villages of the Highlands more traditionally.

Although using watercolours and pastels for sketching, his preferred medium was thin oil on the white surface of an industrial laminate, as this painting is.

As well as being a prolific painter, he wrote a guide for tourists on hill-walking in the area, published in 1889 and reprinted several times. He held numerous exhibitions in Scotland and England and lived in painted in Shieldaig for 18 years from 1983-2001, remaining fit enough to climb the local mountains until he was 78. In 2001 he returned to Oxford where he continued to paint for some years. He sadly died in 2010. A 40 page album of his paintings containing his bio, which was compiled in 2009, is available online.

There are 5 of his paintings in the National Collection, which can be viewed at Artuk.org. A few auction results of his work may be found at the usual sites.

The painting has been newly framed in a 2 1/4" cream reeded frame, which suits is very well. It will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 20 3/4" x 15" - 52.75cm x 38.1cm

Frame size: 25 1/2" x 19 1/2" - 64.75cm x 49.5cm

Medium: Oils on Board

Condition: Very good. The frame is new.