Ian Ritchie RSW mixed media artist
Victorian Poisoners
and
Southern
Gothic
Belles
My current mixed media works are contemporary interpretations of stories of Victorian women poisoners such as Glasgow's Madeleine Smith who murdered her lover with arsenic laced hot chocolate. The infamous Mary Ann Cotton also known as the Dark Angel who poisoned her many victims with aresenic laced tea.
The themes have also developed to include female poisoners from Dark Country ballads such as Wanda from the song by the Chicks " Goodbye Earl".She and her longtime friend poison her abusive husband Earl with poisoned blacked eyed peas!
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Ian Ritchie RSW
Contemporary mixed media artist
Jan Patience: "Ian Ritchie's Dark lady stares at the viewer uncrompromisinly.The chalky layers of the figure's face and the delicate black lace of her dress confounds all expectations of watercolour "
About the Artist
I am married to Norma and have three daughters. I live in the heart of Angus,on the East coast of Scotland . I am lecturer at Dundee and Angus College. My main area of teaching is in Art and Design with specific subject specialism in drawing and painting.
My current body of work explores the captivating world of Neo-Victorianism, with a particular focus on the circumstances of Victorian female poisoners and the impact of arsenic on Victorian society. This interest has extended into the dark narratives found in Country music and the Southern Gothic genre, where tales of poisoners and murderers are prevalent.
In my acrylic paint and mixed media portraits I blend photographs, image transfers, wallpaper, photocopies and printmaking to create layered compositions. Each portrait invites viewers to uncover the hidden stories and sinister secrets that lie beneath the surface.
By merging historical elements with contemporary techniques and imagery my work aims to provoke thought and reflection on the darker aspects of human nature and society. I invite you to step into this shadowy world and experience the haunting beauty of these narratives through the eyes of the subject.
Email: i.ritchie34@gmail.com Mobile: 07784822744 Facebook: Instagram:
Media and inspirational artists
My current works are mixed media pieces. They painted in acrylic paints on paper or card. They also use a variety of collaged images including photographs, image transfers, wallpaper, photocopies and printing techniques.
Inspirational Artists include:
- Will MacLean,
- Andrew Wyeth
- Robert Mars
- Gabe Leonard
- Sir James Guthrie.
selected awards
- Eadie Award for Painting DJCA. 1987
- Exposure Gallery Prize Royal Glasgow Institute. 2009
- Turcan Connell Prize RSW,Edinburgh 2015
- Elected Member of the RSW 2018
- J&W Gordon Smith Award SSA. Edinburgh. December 2022
- John Gray Award RSW, Edinburgh January 2023
- Hunting Group Art Awards,Mall Galleries, London Finalist 1988, 1989.1990
- The Chosen Few Contemporary Scottish Painters at The Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
- Regular exhibitor at Aberdeen Artists Society, Royal Scottish Academy, Visual Arts Scotland, Scottish Society of Artists.
selected exhibitions
- Society of Arts ,Royal Society of Artists in Watercolour and Royal Glasgow Institute since 1987
- The First Morrison Portrait Awards, Exhibition, RSA Edinburgh 1988
- Cornerstone Gallery Dunblane Solo exhibition and with Jonathan Hood 1994
- Finalist in the Laing Seascape/Landscape Competition Talbot-Rice Edinburgh and mall Galleries, London 1995
- Atholl Gallery, Dunkeld mixed exhibitions since 1988 and with Malcolm Cheape 1998
- The Leith gallery. Solo Exhibitions, group shows. Since 1997
- Finalist, The Noble Grossart Painting Prize, RSA Edinburgh and GSA.
selected exhibitions
- Scotland team member, Fabriano paper international Watercolour Exhibition ,Fabriano Italy.2017
- Aberdeen Artists Society , SSA 130th Exhibition and RSW 2022.
- RSA, RSW and SSA Exhibitions 2023.
- Smithy Gallery Strathblane. Summer and Winter Shows 2023/24.
- RI Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, Mall Galleries, London. April 2024 and March 2025
- Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition , Mall Galleries
- London,May 2025
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