Barbara Rae is a celebrated painter and master printmaker whose work is acclaimed worldwide. Known for her fearless use of colour and bold abstraction, Rae draws inspiration from journeys to remote and rugged landscapes—among them the west coast of Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Italy, the American Southwest, and, more recently, the Arctic reaches of Hudson Bay.At the heart of her practice lies a deep engagement with place. Rae is not only captivated by the visual experience of a landscape but also by its layered histories. Her research often begins with maps, archival material, and local histories, which she combines with direct observation to capture the passage of time within a place. This dual approach—intellectual and intuitive—gives her work both emotional depth and historical resonance.Rae’s vibrant compositions are largely semi-abstract or fully abstract, yet they retain recognisable references to the geographies she explores. She is known for embracing imperfection and discord, favouring expressive spontaneity over polished precision. Her paintings and prints are celebrated for their luminous, intense colour palettes and the striking simplicity with which she can render an image through just a few decisive brushstrokes.Rae’s creative process unfolds in two distinct phases. First comes the research—immersing herself in the cultural, geographical, and historical context of a site, whether it's a wild coastal vista, an industrial site, or an interior. The second phase takes place in her Edinburgh studio, where she translates this knowledge into expressive compositions. She works from sketches rather than photographs, using them as a springboard for both monoprints and edition prints.Her printmaking is especially meticulous: a single print may go through 30 to 50 layers of ink before she considers it complete. Yet despite this complexity, her prints, like her paintings, are infused with clarity of vision and a profound sense of place.Barbara Rae is internationally regarded not only as a master of colour but also as an innovator in both technique and expression. Through abstraction and gesture, she captures the spirit and memory of landscapes, creating work that resonates far beyond the boundaries of geography.
