Edinburgh Festival 1994: Hot on a Scottish trail

NOW in his mid-fifties, the Scottish artist John McLean is increasingly recognised as one of the world's leading abstract painters. Most of the paintings in Recent Work 1989-1994, including Gully (1994, left), were done during a burst of activity lasting about 18 months. They form a group, but there are many variations of motif and mood. A characteristic is light generated by colour. In this way non-representational paintings can evoke hot and exotic Mediterranean lands. And yet they all have earthy Scottish titles . . . (Talbot Rice Gallery, 031-650 2211, Thurs-10 Sept.)

(Photograph omitted)