The work of Tim Benson and Lachlan Goudie is bold, colourful and painterly. This forthcoming exhibition will feature a range of new paintings including portraiture, nudes and still life.

Lachlan Goudie is a painter, writer and broadcaster. He will be appearing as one of the two artist judges in a major new BBC1 series, ‘The Big Painting Challenge’, a nationwide search for Britain’s best amateur painter (to be broadcast over six weeks in late February 2015). Throughout the series Lachlan will be shown setting tough challenges for ten amateur artists involving a range of different subjects and artistic mediums. He will also feature in each episode, demonstrating how to master tasks as diverse as still life and portraiture. The series is presented by Richard Bacon and Una Stubbs.

A new BBC book on how to paint accompanies the series, with an introduction by Lachlan.

This is Lachlan’s first major exhibition since filming the series. The public can judge what they think of the richly coloured and complex paintings that he loves to produce in his own studio; from still lives to portraits and nudes. The history of Art is a passion for Lachlan and the work on show will reference and acknowledge the artists that have inspired him from William Nicholson to Veronese. Lachlan strives to create theatrical, images that combine elegant handling with exuberance and dramatic power.

Lachlan is the son of the late Alexander Goudie, a renowned Scottish portrait painter whose sitters included Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay of Clashfern and Billy Connolly.

Lachlan studied at Cambridge University and Camberwell College of art. He was born in Glasgow and exhibits regularly Glasgow, London and New York. He is currently writing and presenting a new 4 part series for the BBC entitled, ‘The Story of Scottish Art’.

‘I create pictures for the pure love of paint. I want my images to act like a canvas window; for people to be able look into them and be transported by what they see.’

Tim Benson studied painting at the Glasgow school of art. He has an instinct for the powerful, challenging figurative art that has often been the hallmark of graduates of the GSA, including Jenny Saville and Alison Watt.

Like Glasgow-born Lachlan, his approach to the canvas reveals a passion for the tradition of painting. But in his large scale nudes and portraits Tim also explores the emotive and visceral potency of oil paint.

Tim’s paintings are characterised by their gestural brushwork and dynamism. By working with large brushes he brings the fluidity and expressiveness of an oil sketch to his oversized canvasses.

Tim is the Vice President of the Royal Institute of Oil painters. The ROI was established in 1882 and showcases the very best of British oil painting at its annual exhibition.

Tim is also the Co-Director of the diploma in portraiture at Heatherley’s school of Art. His work has featured in the BP portrait award and he exhibits regularly with the Royal Society of Portrait painters.

‘I strive to make an image that offers more than simple representation – something with an emotive quality that captures the viewer’s imagination.’