'Inheritance', watercolour, 75 x 51 cm.
In January 2018 Rob was commissioned to paint a series of 3 landscapes and limited edition prints of the Glen which lies above Newtonmore in the Highlands of Scotland. This glen is dotted with settlements from the period before the infamous highland clearances between 1750 and 1850 where the people were removed from land by the landowners, who had found that sheep were more profitable. The clearances were carried out with various degrees of cruelty and ruthlessness (Sutherland's clearances were particularly brutal) and they were responsible for so many Scots, evicted from their land, settling in countries like Canada, the US, Australia and new Zealand.
This glen is the home of the Macpherson Clan, and the concept of the series was to show the land before humans, then at the height of settlement before the clearances occurred, and finally in the present day. This painting is the first in the series, and shows the land the Macpherson's inherited. If your name is Macpherson - this place is home! This view can be seen today; the burn, known locally as the 'First Burn' runs into the River Calder about half a mile behind us. We are looking almost north; the large hill in the distance will later become an Iron Age fort, but this is pre-history and the fort does not yet exist. The land today is bare in this area but here it is covered with the flora and fauna of the Caledonian Forest, most prominent of which are the Scots Pine trees with distinctive red bark colouring.
A Golden Eagle, some of which can still be seen in this area, flies overhead and two wolves look at us from across the burn. The settlement, which will be shown in the next painting, will arise on the left bank of the burn just beyond the near trees.
The original painting is sold by commission and has been generously donated to the Clan Macpherson by it's owner and commissioner.
A limited edition of 250 prints is available, each of which will attract a donation from us to the Clan Macpherson museum:
Image 37 x 25 cm, £32 unmounted or £39 mounted to fit a 20 x 16" frame.