About Graham
In 1996, after 17 years as a graphic designer, Graham McKean decided to commit himself totally to producing his oil paintings. Graham is presently registered as a self-employed artist, painting full-time from a W.A.S.P. studio at the harbour side in Irvine, Ayrshire.
Graham McKean’s paintings have featured in numerous exhibitions and are increasingly appearing at the U.K.’s leading auction houses. His work has now become highly collectible and is held in prestigious private and public collections worldwide. Graham also supports a number of charities through events and auctions.
A review by the late W. Gordon Smith (Art Critic, The Scotsman), described the work of Graham McKean as a cross between the painters John Byrne and Stanley Spencer, but with an “interesting bite”.
More information
| 2017 | Contemporary Fine Art Gallery, Eton, Windsor (mixed show) |
| 2017 | Arteries gallery, Glasgow (mixed show) |
| 1984 | HANOVER FINE ART, EDINBURGH. (MIXED SHOW) |
| 1989-90 | MCLAURIN GALLERIES, AYR. (SOLO & MIXED SHOWS) |
| 1992 | THE HOWARD GALLERY, SURREY. (SOLO SHOW) |
| 1992-93 | ANTHONY HEPWORTH FINE ART, BATH (MIXED SHOW) |
| 1994 | R.G.I. MCLELLAN GALLERIES, GLASGOW. (ANNUAL SHOW) |
| 1994 | THE LONDON ART FAIR, ISLINGTON. (HEPWORTH FINE ART) |
| 1994-01-02 | ART EXPOSURE GALLERY, GLASGOW. (SOLO, MIXED SHOWS) |
| 1995-2002 | THE LEITH GALLERY, EDINBURGH. (SOLO, MIXED SHOWS) |
| 1995-2002 | THE WAVERLEY GALLERY, PRESTWICK. (MIXED SHOW) |
| 1995 | THE WELSH ART FAIR, CARDIFF. (MERIDIAN ARTS) |
| 1995 | LINEART INT., GHENT, BELGIUM. (MERIDIAN ARTS) |
| 1996- 2016 | ETON CONTEMP. ARTS, ETON. (MIXED SHOW) |
| 1996-97 | THE LONDON ART FAIR, ISLINGTON. (ETON CONTEMP. ARTS) |
| 1996-97 | THE CHELSEA ART FAIR, LONDON. (MERIDIAN ARTS) |
| 1997 | THE BRITISH COSULATE, 3rd AVE. NEW YORK (ART FROM SCOTLAND) |
| 1997 | HARRODS, LONDON. (EDITION PRINTS) |
| 1998 | THE FORBES MAGAZINE GALLERY 5th AVENUE, NEW YORK. (ART FROM SCOTLAND) |
| 1998-2000 | ART EXPO. JAVITS CENTRE, 11th AVENUE, NEW YORK. (ART FROM SCOTLAND) |
| 1998 | THE GLASGOW PRINT STUDIO. (MIXED SHOW) |
| 1998 | THE ALBEMARLE GALLERY, LONDON. (SCOTTISH FIGURATIVE) |
| 1998-99 | THOMPSONS GALLERY, LONDON. (THE SCOTTISH SHOW) |
| 1998 | THE COMPASS GALLERY, GLASGOW. (MIXED SHOW) |
| 1999 | OPEN EYE GALLERY, EDINBURGH. (MIXED SHOW) |
| 1999 | HUTCHESON’S HALL, GLASGOW. (MIXED SHOW) |
| 1999-02-03 | THE GLASGOW ART FAIR. (THE LEITH GALLERY) |
| 1999 | MERIDIAN ARTS, LONDON. (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2000-02-03 | THE GATEHOUSE GALLERY, GLASGOW. (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2000-01-02 | TOLQUHON GALLERY, ABERDEENSHIRE. (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2001 | THE BATH ART FAIR. (LEITH GALLERY) |
| 2001-02 | FALLE FINE ART, THE NAPIER GALLERY, St. HELIER, JERSEY. (SCOTTISH SHOW) |
| 2002-04 | ALBEMARLE GALLERY, LONDON. (SOLO SHOW) |
| 2003-04-05 | THE LEITH GALLERY, EDINBURGH (SOLO SHOW) |
| 2003 -04 | NICHOLAS HAGEN FINE ART, BARNES, LONDON (SUMMER SHOW) |
| 2003 | Q2 GALLERY, DUNDEE. (SOLO SHOW) |
| 2003 | MERIDIAN ARTS, ST. GERMAIN, FRANCE. (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2003 | ALBEMARLE GALLERY, LONDON. (SUMMER SHOW) |
| 2004 | THE AIR GALLERY, DOVER ST. LONDON (THE SCOTTISH SHOW) |
| 2005 | BYARD ART, CAMBRIDGE (THE LONDON ART FAIR, ISLINGTON) |
| 2005 | THE ART COMPANY SCOTLAND (THE EDINBURGH ART FAIR) |
| 2005 | DEMONTFORT FINE ART (SUMMER SHOW) |
| 2006 | ALBEMARLE GALLERY, LONDON (BRINGING HOME THE BACON) SOLO SHOW. |
| 2007-2014 | CONTEMPORARY FINE ART, ETON ( THE CALEDONIAN SHOW) |
| 2007 | ARTERY’S GALLERY, ST. ANDREWS (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2007 | RED RAG GALLERY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2007 | ALBEMARLE GALLERY, LONDON (WINTER SALON) |
| 2007 | QUEENS GALLERY, DUNDEE (WINTER SHOW) |
| 2007-2012 | MCAULEY FINE ART (MELROSE EXHIBITION) |
| 2007-2012 | ARTERIES, GLASGOW (WINTER SHOW) |
| 2007 | MORNINGSIDE GALLERY, EDINBURGH (SUMMER SHOW) |
| 2008 | ART IN THE CITY GALLERY, GLASGOW “SIGHTS FOR SORE EYES” (SOLO SHOW) |
| 2008 | ART DE CAF, GLASGOW. “DEAD ROCK STARS” (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2009 | ALBEMARLE GALLERY, LONDON “SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC” (SOLO SHOW) |
| 2010 | ALPHA-ART, EDINBURGH “FAITH, HOPE AND MONEY” (SOLO SHOW) |
| 2011 | TORRANCE GALLERY, EDINBURGH (SOLO SHOW) |
| 2011 | GALLERY 23, PARNIE ST. GLASGOW (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2012-2016 | ARTERY’S GALLERY, ST. ANDREWS (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2012 | ART OF OIL, EAST KILBRIDE (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2012 | THE GATEHOUSE GALLERY, GLASGOW (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2013 | BENTLEY SCOTLAND, HAMILTON SHOWROOM (SOLO SHOW) |
| 2013 | GLASGOW ART CENTRE (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2013-2016 | ARTERIES GALLERY, GLASGOW (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2014 | BREEZE ART, JENNERS, EDINBURGH (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2014 | BREEZE ART, HOUSE OF FRASER, GLASGOW (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2014 | TRADES HALL, GLASGOW (ART FOR ERSKINE) (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2015-2016 | CONTEMPORARY FINE ART GALLERY ETON (MIXED SHOW) |
| 2016 | THE ROBERT BURNS BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM, AYR (SOLO SHOW) |
| 2016-2017 | Hansel foundation, Symington. |
| 2016-2017 | Erskine charity annual sale, Glasgow. |
| 2016-2017 | Marie Curie Cancer Kelvingrove. |
| 2016-2017 | Spifox charity auction, Edinburgh |
| 1995 | “British Red Cross” Exhibition and auction of work from selected artists, Christies, Glasgow. |
| 1995 | “Help The Aged” Touring exhibition and auction of work from selected artists, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. |
| 1996 | “Save The Children” Auction of work from selected artists, Edinburgh. |
| 1997 | “Artists In Arms” Touring exhibition, Cardiff, London and Edinburgh. |
| 1999-07 | “Ayrshire Hospice Auction” The Turnberry Hotel. |
| 2001 | Auctioned painting titled “High Rise”, proceeds donated to families and victims of Sept. 11th attacks U.S.A. (Internet auction) |
| 2001 | “Contemporary Scottish Paintings”, auction, Christies, South Kensington, London. |
| 2002-03 | “The Princess Royal’s Trust For Carers”, auction, Bonhams, Edinburgh. Auction, the Glasgow Art Club, Bath St. Glasgow |
| 2003-06 | “Ayrshire Hospice” Summer Ball. Auction of donated painting. |
| 2004-08 | “Hansel Foundation” auction, Radisson Hotel, Glasgow |
| 2004 | “Bobath Scotland” children’s therapy centre. Auction. Moathouse Hotel, Glasgow. |
| 2004-08 | “Save The Children” exhibition and sale, McLaurin Galleries, Ayr. |
| 2006 | “Lyon & Turnbull” Auctioneers, Edinburgh. “The Hunter Foundation” auction of work by selected Scottish artists. |
| 2007 | Christies, London. Scottish art auction 25th May. |
| 2007 | Christies, London. 20th Century British art auction 24th Oct. |
| 2007 | Hansel Foundation charitable auction, Brig-o-doon House Hotel. Ayr. |
| 2008 | Christies, London. Scottish art 16th April. South Kensington. |
| 2008 | “Erskine” military ball charitable auction. |
| 2008-12 | Great Western Auctions, Glasgow. |
| 2008-12 | Shapes Auctioneers, Edinburgh. |
| 2009-12 | McTears Auctioneers Glasgow |
| 2009-12 | “Spifox” charitable auction, Edinburgh. |
| 2010-12 | Hansel Foundation charitable auction, Lochgreen House Hotel, Troon. |
| 2017 | “Brexit” recent oil painting “Glasgow Herald” |
| 1992 | ARTS SUPPLEMENT, THE GUARDIAN. (CATALOGUE OF BRITISH ART TODAY. Pg. 35) |
| 1995 | ‘SUCCESS STORY’, ARTISTS AND ILLUSTRATORS MAGAZINE. (BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE) |
| 1995 | LINEART INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR, GHENT, BELGIUM. (CATALOGUE Pg. 195) |
| 1995 | ‘SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY’, REVIEW BY W.GORDON SMITH (NOV. 19 Pg. 11) |
| 1995 | ‘HELP THE AGED’, TOURING EXHIBITION AND AUCTION. (CATALOGUE) |
| 1996 | SOLO EXHIBITION SPONSORED BY ‘CITIBANK’. (CATALOGUE) THE LEITH GALLERY, EDINBURGH. |
| 1997 | BBC NEWS CANNEL 24. (BREAKFAST TIME COVERAGE. ARTEXPO 98, JAVITS CENTRE, NEW YORK. MARCH 7th SCOTTISH ART IN NEW YORK. |
| 1998 | ‘U.S. ART’, (MAGAZINE), BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE BY TRACY McCORMICK. (AUGUST ISSUE Pg. 54) |
| 1999 | ‘SCOTTISH FIGURATIVE PAINTING’, ALBEMARLE GALLERY, LONDON. |
| 1999 | ‘ART WORLD NEWS’, (MAGAZINE), FOCUS ON SCOTTISH ART BY EVERT VAN VLASTUIN. (APRIL ISSUE Pg. 30) |
| 1999 | ‘SCOTTISH FIELD MAGAZINE’, “AN ART IN LIFE”, BY DR. FRASER G. INGLIS (SEPTEMBER ISSUE Pg. 24-25) |
| 2000 | ‘THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL OPERA’, “THE TURN OF THE TIDE”. CATALOGUE COVER. |
| 2001 | ‘LES BELLES ETOILES D’ECOSSE’, FALLE FINE ART. JERSEY. (CATALOGUE) |
| 2002 | ‘POWERSUITS AND PINSTRIPES’, SOLO EXHIBITION, THE ALBEMARLE GALLERY, LONDON. |
| 2002 | ‘THE SUNDAY EXPRESS’, REWIEW BY KEVIN LOWRY. (MARCH 24th) |
| 2003 | “THE GLASGOW HERALD”, (SUNDAY HERALD MAGAZINE) “DESTINY CALLING” BY IAIN WHITE (FEB 23rd) |
| 2003 | “THE SUNDAY HERALD”, “SCOTTISH OPERA TRIES TO PAINT A BRIGHTER FUTURE” BY LIAM MCDOUGALL. (MAY 25th) |
| 2003 | “BBC RADIO SCOTLAND” (ARTS PROGRAMME) INTERVIEW BY COLIN SUMMERVILLE. (APRIL 4th) |
| 2005 | ” METRO MAGAZINE” (“HOODIES” SERIES OF PAINTINGS ) EDINBURGH ART FAIR. |
| 2005 | “THE GLASGOW HERALD” (RABBIE BURNS PORTRAIT) |
| 2005 | “THE SCOTSMAN” (RABBIE BURNS PORTRAIT) SCOTLAND’S GREAT ROMANTIC. |
| 2005 | “ART BUSINESS TODAY” COVER. PAINTING THE TOWN RED. AUGUST ISSUE. |
| 2006 | “BBC RADIO SCOTLAND” FRED McAULEY SHOW, INTERVIEW. SCOTLANDS MOST EXPENSIVE FISH SUPPER. |
| 2006 | “THE DAILY RECORD, THE SUN, THE SCOTSMAN, THE EXPRESS, THE DAILY MAIL” (SCOTLANDS MOST EXPENSIVE FISH SUPPER) |
| 2006 | “THE DAILY RECORD” (BRINGING HOME THE BACON) MARCH 24th. |
| 2006 | “ARTISTS AND ILLUSTRATORS MAGAZINE” (BRINGING HOME THE BACON) MAY ISSUE. |
| 2007 | “SKY SPORTS NEWS” INTERVIEW AT PITCH SIDE, CELTIC PARK, GLASGOW (CELTIC FC UNVEIL NEW LISBON LION’S PAINTING) |
| 2007 | “THE DAILY EXPRESS”, “THE DAILY RECORD” (CELTIC FC UNVEIL NEW LISBON LIONS PAINTING. |
| 2008 | “SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY” MUSIC OF BURNS, CD COVER ILLUSTRATION |
| 2008 | “THE GLASGOW HERALD” (SIGHTS FOR SORE EYES) EXHIBITION ARTICLE. |
| 2009 | “THE SCOTSMAN” 250th ANNIVERSARY CD COVER ILLUSTRATION (MUSIC OF BURNS) |
| 2009 | “ARTISTS AND ILLUSTRATORS MAGAZINE” (THE FIGURE) MAY ISSUE. |
| 2010 | “REAL RADIO” INTERVIEW BY CARLL SNEDDON, 30/7/09. |
| 2011 | “STV NEWS” NEW PORTRAIT OF “OOR WULLIE” UNVEILED AT GLASGOW AUCTION |
| 2011 | “THE DAILY RECORD”, “GLASGOW HERALD”, “THE SUN”, “THE SCOTSMAN”, “THE DAILY EXPRESS’ NEW PORTRAIT OF “OOR WULLIE” UNVEILED AT GLASGOW AUCTION. |
| 2012 | “THE SCOTTISH ARTIST’S DIRECTORY” |
| 2013 | “THE GLASGOW HERALD” BENTLEY MOTORS EXHIBITION, “VROOM WITH A VIEW” MARTIN SHEILDS. |
| 2015 | “THE MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND” FRONT COVER, SUMMER EDITION, PORTRAIT OF ROBERT BURNS. |
| Aberdeen Asset Management 2017, to produce a series of original paintings inspired by the whisky making process. |
| Buzzworks holdings Ltd. 2017 Commissioned to produce a large scale oil of the ancient “King Malcolm of Scotland” |
| STANDARD LIFE, BAILLIE GIFFORD, BLACK APPOINTMENTS, THE SCOTTISH ARTS COUNCIL, ROYCE PLC, WILLIAM GRANT & SONS LIMITED, THE RALLI MUSEUM (SWITZERLAND AND ISRAEL), GLASGOW CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB, DANIEL STEWART AND COMPANY FINANCIAL SERVICES, ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT, SIR TOM HUNTER, DEMONTFORT FINE ART AND PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS WORLDWIDE. |
| COMMISSIONED BY WILLIAM GRANT & SONS LTD. TO PRODUCE A PAINTING AND STATEMENT TO BE INCORPORATED ONTO THEIR BOTTLES OF GLENFIDDICH SINGLE MALT WHISKY. |
| COMMISSIONED BY BAYARD PARTNERS LTD. , INVESTMENT FUND MANAGERS, LONDON TO PRODUCE A LARGE SCALE WORK FOR THEIR COMPANY RECEPTION. |
| COMMISSIONED BY “SCOTTISH OPERA” TO PRODUCE 5 LARGE OILS DEPICTING ALL ASPECTS OF OPERA AND THEATRE. IMAGES DISPLAYED AS BOARDINGS ON EXTERIOR OF “THEATRE ROYAL” HOPE STREET, GLASGOW. |
| COMMISSIONED BY “CELTIC FC” TO PRODUCE A PAINTING TO MARK THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR 1967 EUROPEAN CUP WINNING TEAM KNOWN AS “THE LISBON LIONS”. A LIMITED EDITION OF 300 PRINTS EACH TO CARRY A CERTIFICATE SIGNED BY GRAHAM McKEAN ALONG WITH SIGNATURES FROM ALL SURVIVING TEAM MEMBERS. FINISHED PAINTING PRESENTED TO BILLY MCNEILL, 1967 CUPWINNING TEAM CAPTAIN. |
| IN 2009 A PORTRAIT TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF THE LATE MICHAEL JACKSON RECEIVED WORLD WIDE PRESS COVERAGE. CLOSE FRIEND TO JACKSON URI GELLER COMMENTED; “McKEAN’S PAINTING OF MICHAEL IS A TRULY FANTASTIC PIECE AND IS AMAZINGLY POWERFUL”. |
| IN 2011 A NEW OIL PAINTING OF THE SCOTTISH CARTOON CHARACTER “OOR WULLIE” WAS UNVEILED AT MCTEARS AUCTIONEERS, GLASGOW RECEIVING WIDE ACCLAIM AND NATIONAL PRESS AND TELEVISION COVERAGE. THE PAINTING WAS ALSO FAVOURABLY RECEIVED BY “OOR WULLIE” HIMSELF. |
| COMMISSIONED IN 2013 BY NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL TO PRODUCE A PAINTING TO MARK THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF IRVINE BEING OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS A SCOTTISH NEW TOWN AND THE REGENERATION AND REDEVELOPMENT OF MUCH OF THE OLD TOWN. THE PAINTING WAS ALSO PRODUCED TO PORTRAY THE INFLUX DURING THIS PERIOD OF THE MANY FAMILIES FROM GLASGOW AND SURROUNDING AREAS WHO RESETTLED IN IRVINE. |
| COMMISSIONED IN 2013 BY BENTLEY MOTORS GLASGOW TO STAGE A MAJOR EXHIBITION OF NEW WORK FOR DISPLAY AT THEIR MAIN SCOTTISH DEALERSHIP IN HAMILTON. A NUMBER OF NEW “AUTOMOBILE INSPIRED” PIECES WERE PRODUCED FOR THIS SHOW. |
| COMMISSIONED BY “SCOTTISH ART DIRECT” TO PRODUCE A LARGE SCALE WORK INSPIRED BT SCOTLAND’S SO CALLED “TARTAN ARMY”. THE FINISHED PAINTING TITLED “FLOWER OF SCOTLAND” WAS UNVEILLED AT THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL MUSEUM IN HAMPDEN PARK STADIUM, GLASGOW ATTRACTING NATIONAL TV, PRESS AND RADIO COVERAGE. THE ORIGINAL PAINTING WAS LOANED TO THE MUSEUM FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD. |
| IN 2015, THE DANFORTH ART MUSEUM, FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS USA, AQUIRED THE LARGE SCALE WORK TITLED “DESPERADO’S” AND IS NOW PART OF THEIR PERMANENT COLLECTION. |