Linda Downie
Anima: mind, passion, courage, anger, spirit, feeling, living essence.
Linda Downie’s paintings explore the innermost part of our common humanity.
They are not, however, static representations, but depend for their existence on the viewers interpretation of their encrypted meaning; one thing in the guise of another, changing as we perceive the deception. While the prevailing wind of culture blows away from the magico/religious root of art, Downie’s work embraces it. Ancient themes are informed by contemporary issues.
Proud and private, the personality of the imagery, spliced with a plant or beast, offers us an uncomfortable, nevertheless compelling, visual balance, which is further compounded by a subtle, yet strong, execution.
The apparent simplicity of these paintings disguises their power to influence.
Linda Downie was born in Dunfermline in 1964 and graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1989. She currently lives and works in London.
Linda Downie has exhibited extensively throughout Europe and her work has been acquired for many major collections, including The National Swiss Bank, Bibliotheque National Paris, Paris Opera and The British Library.
Solo Exhibitions
2006 Ainimi, Toni Heath Gallery, London
1998 Lamont Gallery, London
1997 Nielson & Wuethrich International Fine Art, Thun, Switzerland
Selected Group Exhibitions
2006 Now We Are Two, Toni Heath Gallery, London
2005 Minier Chocolate Factory, London
2005 Secret Art, Royal College of Art, London
2000 Warrior Studio Open, London
1999 London Contemporary Art Fair
1999 Gallery Alba, London
1998 London Contemporary Art Fair
1997 Absolute Secret, Royal College of Art, London
1997 Invited Artist, St Christol de Rodier Atelier, France
1996 The Scottish Print Open, Touring Exhibition
1996 Artists in Print, Atrium Gallery, London
1995 Absolute Secret, Royal College of Art, London
1995 Galerie zur aulten deutchen Schule, Switzerland
1993 The Decade Exhibition, MacLellan Galleries, Scotland
1990 Galerie zur aulten deutchen Schule, Switzerland
Major Collections
National Swiss Bank
TI Group
Bibliotheque National Paris
Paris Opera
British Library
London Institute of the Arts
Woo, Hong Kong
Summers, New York
Education
MA Fine Art, Royal College of Art, London
Exchange Scholarship, Academi Der Buildeden Kunst, Vienna, Austria
Exchange Scholarship, NESCAD, Halifax, Canada
BA Fine Art, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee University, Scotland
Awards
1998 London Institute Purchase Prize
1996 John Purcell Paper Award, London College of Printmaking
1988 The Jeremy Cubitz Memorial Award
1987 Elizbeth Greenshield Memorial Award
1984 Duncan of Drumfork travelling scholarship
1984 Armstrong Davidson award SED