Scottish Passion: Louis McNally Solo Art Exhibition at Red Rag Gallery, Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire UK (from 19 June 2011)

GLOUCESTERSHIRE, ENGLAND, May 23, 2011 (Press-News.org) Louis McNally's paintings of the Scottish landscape, towns and coast have a distinctive quality, sometimes reminiscent of Victorian artists but undoubtedly contemporary in style and effect. He usually paints in oils, working from drawings, photographs and memory, with close attention to detail. The finished paintings have an often haunting, always striking, quality and transform familiar scenes into moving, atmospheric studies.

His landscape paintings range from the epic to the intimate. Some are grand, often with low horizons and 'big' skies, conveying natural spaciousness, energy and power (e.g. February, Butt of Lewis, From the East), others suggest intimate memories or secret places (e.g. The Walk, Sunset) while, in yet others, manmade features are imbued with grandeur of their own (e.g. The Station, Wind Turbine). His urban scenes portray layers of thoughtfully composed elements, a sense of perspective, place and presence, with strong lines, subtle colouring and the teasing interplay of light and shade (e.g. Harbour, Leaving the City).

Carole Teagle, Manager at the Red Rag Gallery in Stow on the Wold, said, "We are especially delighted to host this solo show by contemporary Scottish landscape artist, Louis McNally. He is a skilled exponent of painting landscapes in oils and has a special skill of capturing the essence of a landscape or urban scene - place, scale and atmosphere - yet enabling the observer to share a sense of presence, a warmth and connection with it."

Louis Sinclair McNally (b. Inverkip, Scotland 1963) graduated from the Gray's School of Art in 1990. He is a regular exhibitor at the RSA, Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts and Paisley Art Institute; and his work is held in public and private collections, including Standard Life, Home and Gardens Magazine and the Institute of American Museums, Washington.

The Louis McNally Solo Exhibition will run from Sunday 19 June to Sunday, 03 July 2011.

Red Rag Gallery is a leading UK art gallery and specialises in British and Irish contemporary art, sculpture and limited edition prints. Red Rag Gallery represents many leading contemporary artists and sculptors and ships artwork worldwide. Red Rag has galleries in Stow on the Wold and Bath. The galleries are open every day. Opening hours are: 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday; 10am to 4pm, Sunday.