Gallery of recent work
*available pieces are listed first*
Unless otherwise mentioned, all works are
painted with gouache, mounted & glazed.
Price includes delivery to a UK address,
with an international option now added.
If you’d like to see more photos of any works, ask
for sizes ~ as not all are listed yet ~ or have
any other questions at all, do get in touch to:
fergus@fergushall.com
Robin Dreams the May Queen
GOUACHE
painting 33cm x 48cm
The May Queen is a representation of a traditional
character in Mummers’ Plays and can be identified with
Maid Marion, with her staff representing a Maypole.
The fire on the hill is a Beltain fire, these fires are lit
on Mayday each year on hilltops all across the land.
The apron surrounding the horse is in keeping with
any one of the various horse fertility entities that travel
through towns from door to door on the occasion.
Merlin Gathers an Army of Deer
GOUACHE
painting 39cm x 54cm
While dwelling in the Caledonian Forest, Merlin hears that his ex-wife
is planning to remarry. The legend suggests Merlin gathers an army
of deer so that he can march with them to Partick and be avenged.
The area of Southwest Scotland was home to the tribe of Selgovie
whose totem emblem is the deer, hence the army of deer.
I’ve shown him to be carrying a book to signify his learning and
a shield to signify his warrior status. The spelling of Merlin as
Myrddn is the ancient spelling of the name. Around his neck is
a torc signifying his royal status, above his head is a comet of
ill portend, in the top left of the picture is a fish and a ring
suggesting the coat of arms of Glasgow/Partick.
Avilion
GOUACHE
painting 55cm x 74cm
Avilion is an ancient spelling of Avalon. I used the old spelling as
my research suggested Avilion (the isle of apples) to be the root of
the word Avalon and I wanted to capture as much as possible
of the feeling and essence of the story.
I used Tennyson’s poem Morte D’Arthur in a broken, fragmented
pattern to create a background for the swan-like barque carrying
Arthur to Avalon to be healed of his mortal wounds. Excalibur
is gone, its sheath is empty and so the tale is ended.
However Arthur holds his own heart in his hands as a sign
that when his healing is complete, he will return.
Forget-me-not
GOUACHE
painting 16cm x 19cm
This painting is based on the popular Victorian theme of the sailor’s
farewell and the sailor’s return. The interaction of human lives with
the sea form iconic images for an island nation, so in Victorian times
the perilous occupation of sailors and uncertainty experienced by
their wives were widely used themes in the art of the day.
Sanquhar Dancing
GOUACHE
painting 30cm x 33cm
This is a tribute to the wonderful knitting design which is exclusive
to the town of Sanquhar.This is a small town in Ayrshire, the building
in the background is a representation of the town hall / museum
which displays many early examples of traditional Sanquhar knitting.
I am pleased with this painting, which is from an old sketch book,
and framed it as a finished work because it has an energetic, loose
style, difficult to reproduce in a carefully considered composition.
All work below is no longer available
The Green Man
The Green Man is the embodiment of the cyclic nature of the year:
he represents the immortal essence inhabiting living beings.
This essence is beyond birth and death. The phrase surrounding
the central image was composed by my partner Julie MacLeod.
Robin Hood
The Banshee Visits Mr O Gorman
all work © Fergus Hall