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artist biography

the joy that john mackie takes in his art can be felt by all who view his work, and reflects the dedication this artist has had to his work since his childhood. born in glasgow in 1953, he first fell in love with art when looking through his uncle’s sketchbook. he taught himself with art books from his school library, using matchsticks with chewed ends as makeshift paintbrushes.

mackie’s talent allowed him to attend an art college, although his working class upbringing and lack of funds meant he was set apart from many of his classmates. these challenges resulted in a resourcefulness and a resolution to succeed that saw him eventually being granted a travelling scholarship. this took him from his hometown of glasgow to the us and canada.

after his studies, mackie continued to travel in italy and france, taking in new sights and inspiration as he went. he made a point of continuing to paint on the street, as he had done while learning, in order to get a feel for the scenes, light, colour and movement he captured.

mackie still takes inspiration from the world around him, looking for new works to create. his work is sought after and renowned worldwide.