I recently gave a talk on the Scottish Colourists at The Arc, Winchester, as part of the Radical Perspectives exhibition — four artists who have influenced me heavily over the years: Samuel John Peploe, Francis Cadell, Leslie Hunter and John Duncan Fergusson, all working in the early twentieth century. Their influence, alongside the Bloomsbury Group, runs through my art classes at The Colour Factory, where we look at the historical context, the art, the artists’ stories, and the process behind the making.

The talk came about almost by accident. Over a year ago, Kirsty Rodda, curator at The Arc, came to visit The Colour Factory to talk through ideas for upcoming shows. She suggested an exhibition of famous artists and their dogs – “because everyone in Winchester loves dogs.” I said, what about the Scottish Colourists! And I’ll do a talk! My student said “this show was made for you Rosie”. And of course I knew I would provide a better teaching experience for my students by having the art we have studied in our local gallery.

Painting of flowers and silver vases - by JD Fergusson

JD Fergusson (1874 – 1961) Jonquils and Silver. 1905. Oil on canvas

Colourful painting in the Fauvist style by SJ Peploe

SJ Peploe (1871 -1935) Luxembourg Gardens c 1910 Oil on Panel

The Scottish colourists were all born in Scotland but they did most of their training in the Academy Julian in Paris and worked alongside fellow artists in the South of France  with the post impressionists and the Fauve artists. So they were heavily influenced by the artists whose paintings were referred to as being by “wilde beasts” because of the vivacious and bold mark making. Their paintings prior to this period were flat, cool and grey reflecting the Glasgow School of art tradition and the city around them. When they returned to Scotland they brought colour back with them, extraordinary colour and vibrancy, shaped by artists like Henri Matisse and Vincent Van Gogh, and the Fauvist movement.

Bright fauvist painting of a boat by Andre Derain

‘The Wild Beast’ Andre Derain (1880 – 1954) The Pool of London 1906 Oil on Canvas

Artist Rosie stands by a painting

Rosie talking at the Scottish Colourists Exhibition at the Arc in Winchester, 2026

Although they only exhibited together three times as a group two of them were studio buddies and shared a jug or two – Peploe and Fergusson were life long friends. They had the same colour walls in their studios and the same props in paintings. Artists end up influencing each other simply by working in the same environment — That’s exactly what happens at The Colour Factory too. I think thats why our exhibition hangs well together.

You can see the connection for yourself at The Arc, Winchester — come along and see where the story leads.

The Everyday exhibition at the Arc in Winchester is running until the 26 July 

Radical Perspectives ends 16 September.

You can watch James Knox, Curator Emeritus at the Fleming Collection, highlight an interesting story connected to the Bloomsbury Group here and learn more about the Fleming Collection here.