“The reasons for making the paintings in this exhibition come from two remarkable women. My late wife, Dorothy, was a distinguished historian. In the nineteen eighties she was asked by Scottish Television to oversee their Schools series of programmes on the Great War, and to write a book to accompany the series. Ann Keddy and I became partners in 2006, she being in the same position as myself, having lost her much loved spouse Ken.
In 2011 she felt her grandson, Rory, should be exposed to the realities of the 1914-18 conflict. She also wanted to visit the grave of her great uncle Greer. The whole experience was deeply moving and very sad. For me, it brought back to my mind Dorothy’s book and her work on the war.
When I returned home I was moved to make light paintings, this time in oil paint, of the death and destruction of the landscape and the soldiers. This small exhibition is to honour all, on both sides who died.” - James Morrison