Alistair Michie

Alistair Michie was the son of Anne Redpath, the famous Scottish colourist working in the first half of the 20th century. He was obviously very influenced by her works and 1962 he went to the Venice Biennale and saw the works of Mark Rothko and other influential and important 20th century Abstract Expressionists. From that point on he purely painted abstracts. He was a member of the Royal West of England Academy and a fine painter whose work is recognised as being some of the best produced in the 20th century. 

Alistair Michie 'Sixties Girl' illustration 40cm x 25cm

However, if we rewind back a decade to his years directly after war service (during which time he was a mosquito pilot fighting with anger, as he described in his monograph on his wartime experiences) we find him working in fashion illustration. In the 1950’s and early 60’s he worked for all the big magazine companies, including Vogue. These works are completely different from work post 1962 but show a high degree of skill, design and feeling for the age. For very long time there was no knowledge of these paintings until the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh put on an exhibition of the Michie family; Anne Redpath and the 2 sons. Alistair and David. And these fantastic magazine Illustrations were shown for  the first time. I'm lucky to have a couple of these, and this one of a 1960's girl is typical of the period.