Artist - Colin Ross Jack
Art has been a passion for all my life, and continues to be so. I have used most mediums. Having painted exclusively in pastel for about 12 years, I now paint in oils, which I make myself in the traditional manner. I enjoy the ability to create thousands of colours and tones from a few tubes of paint – many of my oils are painted using nothing but prussian blue and burnt umber with white, with a few touches of local colour.
Recently I have enjoyed painting in the style of Japanese ukiyo-e woodcuts, using acrylic, emulsion and black felt pens to mimic this colourful, lyrical style of artists like hokusai and hiroshige.
I paint mainly seascapes and scenes of my native Fife, but have been inspired to paint various ‘series’ of pictures, such as costumed figures from Venice carnival and geishas from Japan. I complete 50 to 80 pictures a year. I hold an annual solo exhibition at the Arts Festival in Pittenweem [near my home town in Scotland] every August, now one of the main events of the Scottish art calendar. I also exhibit occasionally elsewhere, and have a website of my original works on www.colinrossjack.co.uk.
As well as in England and Scotland, several of my pictures are now in private collections in France, Germany, Australia and America, including two belonging to Michael Steele, once bassist of the ‘Bangles’! I do demonstrations/workshops to Art Societies both freelance and through Artprofile.
I was born and brought up in Anstruther, a fishing village in the 'East Neuk' of Fife in Scotland. Though returning often to my homeland, I lived in the North West of England since 1970, and now live in worcester. I am married to Rosemary, with son Alan, daughter Hayley and 4 Granddaughters Lucy, Catherine, Amy and Holly and one grandson Johnny!
I was educated at Waid Academy, Anstruther, Fife, and took an Honours degree in Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh. I entered the teaching profession, and taught Science, mainly Physics, for all my working life. I am now retired.
Having opted to teach instead of becoming a professional astronomer, I maintain a deep interest in Astronomy. I taught Astronomy in adult education for many years, have built telescopes, observed and photographed the night sky, and now have a small observatory in the back garden.
I wrote poetry for some years, got published and won some competitions, but the muse has now deserted me. ‘Month’, a novel I wrote some years back, is now available for Kindle on Amazon.
I am passionate about cricket, despite being Scottish, and play guitar, despite being deaf.
- Colin Ross Jack, Jan 2022
hello angela
thank you for your kind words about my art and astro site. i would be delighted to do an astro painting for your son!
firstly, there are already 4 astro paintings on my ‘home’ page.. if you don’t like any of these, thats ok, you can suggest another photo from the astro page to paint.
pricewise, if the prices are too much i am happy to reduce them. i would reduce the exisitng ones by half, as i have had them for some time. [they are quite large as you can see].
if you want something different and/or smaller, let me know also and i hope we can agree on a picture and price
thanks again and best wishes
hello angela
thank you for your kind words about my art and astro site. i would be delighted to do an astro painting for your son!
firstly, there are already 4 astro paintings on my ‘home’ page.. if you don’t like any of these, thats ok, you can suggest another photo from the astro page to paint.
pricewise, if the prices are too much i am happy to reduce them. i would reduce the exisitng ones by half, as i have had them for some time. [they are quite large as you can see].
if you want something different and/or smaller, let me know also and i hope we can agree on a picture and price
thanks again and best wishes
colin
hello angela
thank you for your kind words about my art and astro site. i would be delighted to do an astro painting for your son!
firstly, there are already 4 astro paintings on my ‘home’ page.. if you don’t like any of these, thats ok, you can suggest another photo from the astro page to paint.
pricewise, if the prices are too much i am happy to reduce them. i would reduce the exisitng ones by half, as i have had them for some time. [they are quite large as you can see].
if you want something different and/or smaller, let me know also and i hope we can agree on a picture and price
thanks again and best wishes
colin
Hi Colin
Greetings from sunny Lenzie, near Glasgow!
I found your lovely work whilst searching on ebay. I was actually searching for some original art of planets, stars etc., My youngest son is 21 at the end of November and loves all that stuff. He’s a third year law student with a childs quilt cover with stars and planets on his bed! I love your Astrophotography and I wondered if you would be interested in doing a painting of one of them as a commissioned work? I’m sure Christopher would be doubly thrilled to get this from someone with your background in Astrophysics. If you are interested in doing this could you give me a cost please?
If you can’t manage just let me know, good luck with all your lovely paintings. Thanks Angela
Hi Colin
Greetings from sunny Lenzie, near Glasgow!
I found your lovely work whilst searching on ebay. I was actually searching for some original art of planets, stars etc., My youngest son is 21 at the end of November and loves all that stuff. He’s a third year law student with a childs quilt cover with stars and planets on his bed! I love your Astrophotography and I wondered if you would be interested in doing a painting of one of them as a commissioned work? I’m sure Christopher would be doubly thrilled to get this from someone with your background in Astrophysics. If you are interested in doing this could you give me a cost please?
If you can’t manage just let me know, good luck with all your lovely paintings. Thanks Angela
Hi Colin
Greetings from sunny Lenzie, near Glasgow!
I found your lovely work whilst searching on ebay. I was actually searching for some original art of planets, stars etc., My youngest son is 21 at the end of November and loves all that stuff. He’s a third year law student with a childs quilt cover with stars and planets on his bed! I love your Astrophotography and I wondered if you would be interested in doing a painting of one of them as a commissioned work? I’m sure Christopher would be doubly thrilled to get this from someone with your background in Astrophysics. If you are interested in doing this could you give me a cost please?
If you can’t manage just let me know, good luck with all your lovely paintings. Thanks Angela
Thank you for a very informative and interesting talk this morning at Adlington. Next time I paint acrylics I’m definitely going to have a go at the underpainting.
Thank you for a very informative and interesting talk this morning at Adlington. Next time I paint acrylics I’m definitely going to have a go at the underpainting.
Colin - I’ve just had the chance to look through your website. I must say that I am very impressed, not only with the site itself and your very obvious talent as an artist, but also with all that you have accomplished, throughout your life.
I sincerely look forward to meeting you on Tuesday and spending some time with you.
Kind regards,
Jack (Northampton)
Hi Colin,
My parnter has a painting signed Col Ross, he has had it for many years and we were curious to know if you are the artist.
Could we send you a picture?
It is titled ‘NUDE IN ORANGE’ on back.
thanks,
Melissa
Hello Colin
I have just been brousing your website and wondered if you would be able to come and do a dmonstration for our society sometime in the future - either Autumn ‘12 or Spring ‘13. I am the workshop co-ordinator for Altrincham Society of artists and plan our programme of events. If you are willing to come could you let me know your fee and also for a workshop. I am particularly imoressed with your scenes of Venice and your treatment of “water” be it canals or the sea. Hope to hear from you soon. Mary Atherton
Hi Colin!
SO sorry I’ve not been back in touch sooner… It’s been a bit of a mad time lately. I’ve been desperately trying to finish a rather overdue commission of pictorial maps of a local graveyard… Yes, a graveyard! Actually it’s been really interesting! It’s steeped in history but I feel a little “gravestoned out” at the moment! Been trying to get some more work together too for an upcoming exhibition at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
Anyway, enough of my lame excuses, how are you? I hope you are well and creating more of your lovely paintings!
I’m really glad you like my sunsets - thank you! I’ve just set up another wee website (one that’s easier to update regularly) so I’ll be putting up some of my new work there. The address is http://www.catrionamaceachen.com
I used to be on Facebook but I closed my account a few months ago. I’d love to stay in touch though, so please use my personal email address attached.
Best wishes,
Catriona X
Hi Colin!
SO sorry I’ve not been back in touch sooner… It’s been a bit of a mad time lately. I’ve been desperately trying to finish a rather overdue commission of pictorial maps of a local graveyard… Yes, a graveyard! Actually it’s been really interesting! It’s steeped in history but I feel a little “gravestoned out” at the moment! Been trying to get some more work together too for an upcoming exhibition at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
Anyway, enough of my lame excuses, how are you? I hope you are well and creating more of your lovely paintings!
I’m really glad you like my sunsets - thank you! I’ve just set up another wee website (one that’s easier to update regularly) so I’ll be putting up some of my new work there. The address is http://www.catrionamaceachen.com
I used to be on Facebook but I closed my account a few months ago. I’d love to stay in touch though, so please use my personal email address attached.
Best wishes,
Catriona X
hi catriona
it was nice to meet u too! ty for u kind words. i have been looking at ur site too, and love ur sizzling sunsets! also u can do portraits, which i can’t!
that is great that u r going to try makingoils, please consut me for help!
r u on facebook or msn? i like talking to people and staying in touch, esp as on those things i am not deaf..
eileen says u may be thinking of exhibiting at the church wher ei am using the garage. that would b good to have another artist there, it would help us both. it is a ibt far form the centre, compared to where u r now, but still worth looking into.
hope we can keep in touch now!
colin x
Hi Colin,
Just to say it was really lovely to meet you today!
I’m so glad I had the opportunity to see your work… I loved it - fantastic! I feel really inspired to try some sunsets using oils now… I can but try (although I might leave it a while till I experiment with pigment and linseed oil…! - Not brave enough!)
All the best!
Catriona