Blackadder, Elizabeth (1931–)

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Blackadder, Elizabeth (1931–)

Scottish artist. Born Sept 24, 1931, in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland; attended Edinburgh University and Edinburgh College of Art, 1949–54; m. John Houston (painter), 1956.

Landscape and still life painter, held 1st solo exhibition at 57 Gallery, Edinburgh (1959); lectured in drawing and painting at Edinburgh College of Art (1962–86); though early work was mostly landscapes, began to concentrate on still life (1970s), combining recognizable objects with apparently random associations (cats, fans, ribbons, etc.) depicted on an empty abstract background; had solo exhibitions of work, both nationally and internationally, and participated extensively in group exhibitions from 1961, notably in Canada, Germany, US, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Russia and UK; began to include flowers and plants in later works which increasingly came to dominate compositions; elected to Royal Scottish Academy (1972) and Royal Academy (1976), the 1st woman to be a full member of both; also elected member of The Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts (1983). Received Guthrie Award from Royal Scottish Academy (1962), Pimms Award from Royal Academy (1983); appointed Her Majesty's Painter and Limner in Scotland (2001).

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