Visualise On Your Wall

Ex. Collection Billy and Pamela Connolly.

Born in London, but moved to Scotland at the age of four. Painter of figure subjects, portraits in oil and stage scenery. Attended the Glasgow School of Art 1975-77 then joined the Royal Highland Fusiliers , an unhappy but formative period which lasted only nine months. Resumed art studies 1979-81 when Sandy Moffat became a strong influence. Uses bold black contours, bright colouring and socially relevant subject matter. According to Hartley ‘The world he depicts is a decidedly masculine one: soldiers, boxers, body-builders, sportsmen. But his attitude towards it is not celebratory or triumphant, although it might seem so at first sight. On the contrary, he sees this overweening masculinity as flawed. Bulging muscles, posturing and aggression are seen as futile and destructive, if they lack the right environment and the right channels or push too far…there is baroque exuberance in Howson’s work, a robustness of form, that comes close to caricature at times…the effect is to produce a kind of popular imagery, a folk history of Glasgow working class life.’ Appointed war artist for Bosnia in 1993. In 1995 he returned to London, since when recognition and popularity have risen sharply. A sensitive man, he has overcome severe emotional problems and is a generous benefactor to many charities.