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Legendary Thurso artist’s paintings under the spotlight - little-known historic scenes by Barrogill Keith available as prints





Some rarely seen works by the late Thurso artist David Barrogill Keith are now available to purchase as high-quality prints with all proceeds going to charity.

Alexander Glasgow took a shine to the pictures owned by Thurso-based collector Robert Maitland and they both agreed that the paintings of local scenes would make fine additions to anyone’s wall.

Mr Glasgow said: “I’m hugely delighted to have tracked down some pictures of rarely seen scenes of Thurso, and a massive thank you to NRS Dounreay for taking high-quality snaps. Thanks also to Robbie Maitland for releasing it from his wall, which it has adorned for a number of years.”

Alexander Glasgow, left, with Robert Maitland who owns many paintings by Thurso artist Barrogill Keith. Picture supplied
Alexander Glasgow, left, with Robert Maitland who owns many paintings by Thurso artist Barrogill Keith. Picture supplied

David Barrogill Keith (known locally as Barrogill Keith), was born in Thurso in 1891 and in 1908 left to study law at Edinburgh University. He also studied painting at the Académie Delacluse, an atelier-style art school in Paris, and drawing at Edinburgh College of Art during that period.

Whilst at Edinburgh, DB Keith sketched his fellow students and tutors there. These are contained in a sketchbook held at Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archive in Wick.

During WWI he made sketches of the men he served with and after the war returned to Thurso to practice law. His love of drawing and painting endured and he was a seminal influence within the Society of Caithness Artists. He exhibited at the RSA (Royal Scottish Academy) from 1937 to 1966 and the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour.

Barrogill Keith's self-caricature from one of his notebooks held at the Caithness archive.
Barrogill Keith's self-caricature from one of his notebooks held at the Caithness archive.

Mr Glasgow added: “George Mackay Brown called Thurso that ‘small grey town by the sea’. This was before Mount Pleasant and Springpark when the Ulbster Villa was an isolated building, yet there always is colour if you know where to look. Barrogill painted in bright Mediterranean colours.”

He says that Mr Maitland has another painting showing Old St Peter's Kirk which he has also made available for prints. “Barrogill painted this from his father's solicitor's office in what now is the private residence upstairs from the Bank of Scotland, then the British Linen Bank, between 1935 and 1937 judging by the state of Freswick Court.”

Mr Maitland says he has around 150 artworks by Barrogill Keith and had provided some for an exhibition some years ago at the North Coast Visitor Centre when it was Caithness Horizons.

Thurso harbour and Old St Peters Kirk by Barrogill Keith.
Thurso harbour and Old St Peters Kirk by Barrogill Keith.

“I got my first painting from Barrogill Keith himself when I was just 13 years old,” he recalled.

“I worked for my dad in the summer holidays and he was doing some painting at Barrogill’s house. I used to clean up any mess that the painters left. I stopped and gazed at Barrogill’s artworks and he came along and asked if I was interested in art. I told him I loved the paintings and at the end of the job he gave me a present, one of his paintings.

“I was friendly with Alastair Munro from the Ship’s Wheel [antique shop in Thurso] who always went on about Barrogill and sold his paintings. I was picking them up for just a pound or 50 pence.”

Mr Maitland says the Barrogill has a “free loose impressionistic style” and played a leading role in the local art scene, especially with the Society of Caithness Artists. “Every house I used to work in when I was younger had a Barrogill as he used to give them off free to folks. I started collecting his paintings because I love them. He has elements of the Scottish Colourists in his work as well.”

Mr Maitland added that Barrogill died in 1979 and won the Military Cross in the First World War.

A colourful view of Thurso foreshore houses by Barrogill Keith.
A colourful view of Thurso foreshore houses by Barrogill Keith.

The prints that Mr Glasgow intends to produce will be high quality and he suggests that Durrans or the Coo’s Tail Gallery in Thurso will frame them “for the simple cost of materials and their labour”.

He says that neither he nor Mr Maitland will profit from the print sales and all proceeds will be split between Thurso Community Cafe charity, the Leprosy Mission and Old St Peter’s Kirk Preservation Association.

“Printing will be done under my direction. A glossy can be done easily in Thurso but I'd recommend on fine art paper for a few pounds. This isn't available in Caithness but can be done by a supplier I know. I can make them available to local printers for glossy, or contact an online printer for fine art paper.”

Old St Peter's Kirk in Thurso will profit from the charity donations. Picture: DGS
Old St Peter's Kirk in Thurso will profit from the charity donations. Picture: DGS

An unframed print will cost around £15.

Anyone interested in purchasing a print of the paintings can message Alexander Glasgow on his Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/caithness.manifesto

He can also be reached by emailing him at: alexanderglasgow.foi@gmail.com

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