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Isobel Johnstone's work is full of colour and light.

'Locked down in Dorset this year, I fell in love with England. A Scottish obsession with colour has been an excuse to go abroad. But, as one glorious Spring day followed the last, Nature demanded I go out and get on with painting what was happening. Perhaps the contrast between this beauty and the horrors of Covid 19 made everything more immediate and poignant. Whatever it was, I had found a new subject'.

Pastel is a favourite medium for working on the spot, e.g. in Venice, but oil is generally the preferred medium for still life and portraits. There is a variety of print techniques: as well as etchings and linocuts, some Venice aquatints are combined with acrylics.

To see examples of recent work, click on one of the 'thumbnails' below, on one of the Categories listed above or a word in the left margin. The artist is happy to arrange a viewing in her Hammersmith studio, by email or by telephone 07798 894 222. Other recent work may also be seen at the Rowley Gallery, 115 Kensington Church St, London W8 7LN or at the Russell Gallery, 12 Lower Richmond Road, London SW15 1JP. Prices range from £250 to £350 for framed pastels, from £250 to £900 for paintings, and from £35 to £70 for unframed prints and drawings.

Archive

The archive page includes a broad selection of older work in reverse date order. It provides a reference collection to give a glimpse of the background and context to the works in the main part of the site.

Venice Oil on Canvas 30 x 40 Year:200 Code:018L

Venice2 Oil on Canvas 30 x 40 Year:200 Code:024L

Venice, from Fabbriche nuove Pastel on Paper 23 x 29 Year:2009 Code:025L

Albert Bridge oil on canvas 60 x 90cm Year:2004 Code:026L

Pink Creeper oil on canvas 71 x 91cm Year:2007 Code:036L

Aesculus Hippocastanum Kew Pastel on Paper 39 x29cm Year:2008 Code:044L

Awaiting Catalogue entry for Image: images/050L.jpg

Life study Pastel on Paper 23 x 29 Year:2007 Code:075L

Reclining Nude Oil on Canvas 30 x 40 Year:200 Code:097L

Venice Grimani watergate print 51 x 61cm Year:2012 Code:114L

Elgin Crescent cherry blossom oil on canvas 25 x 35 Year:2004 Code:118L

Elgin Crescent Indian yellow oil on canvas 25 x 35 Year:2009 Code:124L

Awaiting Catalogue entry for Image: images/129L.jpg

Elgin Crescent winter oil on canvas 20 x 50 Year:2007 Code:135L

Spring sunlight oil on board 25 x 28 Year:1998 Code:143L

Venice watergate acrylic and etching 25 x 30 x Year:2014 Code:145L

Voysey Chestnut Chiswick pastel on paper 29 x 39 Year:2009 Code:150L

Caroline Pastel on Paper 60 x 45 Year:2015 Code:151L

Twins oil on canvas 70 x 65 Year:2012 Code:163L

Elgin Crescent Spring oil on canvas 30 x 60 Year:2009 Code:168L

Elgin Crescent Winter oil on canvas 30 x 60 Year:2007 Code:170L

Thames at Chiswick oil on Canvas 25 x 25 Year:2005 Code:187L

Chestnuts oil on canvas 70 x 90 Year:2006 Code:189L

Venice acrylic and etching 51 x 61 Year:2012 Code:200L

Hyacinths linocut 21 x 30 Year:2005 Code:204L

Life study Pastel on Paper 20 x 15 Year:2002 Code:206L

Chiesa dell Fava oil on canvas 25 x 30 Year:2012 Code:216L

Venice San Giorgio dei Greci oil on canvas 24 x 30 Year:2008 Code:219L

Venice SS Giovanni e Paolo oil on canvas 30 x 30 Year:2008 Code:221L

Elgin Crescent Maple branches oil on board 25 x 28 Year:1995 Code:226L

St Michael's Mount oil on Canvas 30 x 30 Year:2007 Code:233L

Dorset Apple blossom oil on canvas 40 x 50 Year:2020 Code:247L

Cattistock playground oil on canvas 40 x 60 Year:2020 Code:248L

Dorset foxgloves oil on canvas 30 x 40 Year:2018 Code:249L

Dark hollyhock oil on canvas 25 x 30 Year:2020 Code:250L

Cattistock roseanne oil on canvas 30 x 40 Year:2021 Code:251L

Hollyhocks and lavender oil on canvas 30 x 30 Year:2021 Code:252L

Still life with Cezanne jug oil on canvas 50 x 60 Year:2022 Code:253L

Dark Hollyhock oil on canvas 25 x 30 Year:2017 Code:254L

African Violets oil on canvas 41 x 59 Year:2015 Code:255L

Dorset Sedums oil on canvas 26 x 36 Year:2015 Code:256L

West African baby etching and watercolour 22 x 12 Year:2017 Code:257L

Hyacinths and fruit oil on canvas 40 x 50 Year:2014 Code:258L

Viburnum Bonariensis oil on canvas 35 x 45 Year:2018 Code:259L

Bonnieux garden oil on canvas 25 x 30 Year:2022 Code:260L

Bonnieux landscape oil on canvas 20 x 25 Year:2021 Code:261L

Dark tree Cattistock oil on board 20 x 24 Year:2020 Code:262L

Barry in Dorset oil on canvas 35 x 50 Year:2020 Code:263L

Hello linocut 15 x 20 Year:2020 Code:264L

Hammersmith Agapanthus oil on canvas 66 x 70 Year:2021 Code:265L

Hello! linocut 16 x 20 Year:2020 Code:266L

Trampolining oil on canvas 90 x 120 Year:2016 Code:267L

Tulips oil on canvas 70 x 60 Year:2014 Code:268L

Snow Loch an Eilan linocut 12 x 20 Year:2018 Code:270L

Hydrangeas and black Dahlia oil on canvas 70 x 75 Year:2018 Code:271L

Self portrait oil on canvas 30 x 35 Year:2017 Code:273L

Cypresses Bonnieux oil on canvas 80 x 90 Year:2015 Code:275L

Venice, Palazzo Dona pastel on paper 24 x 30 Year:2014 Code:276L

Conversation drawing 20 x 30 Year:2022 Code:280L

Awaiting Catalogue entry for Image: images/281L.jpg

Venice Canal grande acrylic and etching 30 x 40 Year:2013 Code:282L

Venice, Rio San Pantaleon oil on canvas 41 x 51 Year:1 Code:284L

Venice, Fava linocut 20 x 30 Year:2017 Code:285L

Venice Grand Canal and fishmarket oil on canvas 50 x 76 Year:2015 Code:286L

London Albert Bridge oil on canvas 70 x 90 Year:2023 Code:289L

Awaiting Catalogue entry for Image: images/290L.jpg

Venice, the lagoon oil on canvas 70 x 70 Year:2017 Code:291L

Poppies etching 33 x 39 Year:2018 Code:292L

Cedars print 15 x 20 Year:2017 Code:293L

Awaiting Catalogue entry for Image: images/294L.jpg

Hi there! print 15 x 20 Year:2019 Code:295L

Venice, San Marco pastel on paper 24 x 30 Year:2013 Code:296L

Venice, Grand Canal from San Vio pastel on paper 30 x 40 Year:2014 Code:298L

Venice, grand Canal with Ca' da Mosto pastel on paper 30 x 40 Year:2014 Code:299L

Japanese Anemonies oil on canvas 54 x 64 Year:2020 Code:302L

Venice, watergate pastel on paper 23 x 28 Year:2010 Code:340L

Dog Days print 15 x 30 Year:2017 Code:349L

Little birds print 15 x 18 Year:2013 Code:357L

Venice, San Marco pastel on paper 30 x 40 Year:2016 Code:378L

Awaiting Catalogue entry for Image: images/388L.jpg

Awaiting Catalogue entry for Image: images/392L.jpg

Venice from near Rialto oil on canvas 50 x 76 Year:2010 Code:396L

Horse Chestnuts Oil on Canvas 30 x 40 Year:200 Code:411L

Blue poles, Venice print 18 x 20 Year:2016 Code:442L

Venice, Grad Canal with Ca' da Mosto pastel on paper 30 x 40 Year:2014 Code:482L

Venice, San Giovanni in Bragora pastel on paper 24 x 30 Year:2012 Code:483L

Awaiting Catalogue entry for Image: images/496L.jpg

Joan oil on canvas 30 x 25 Year:2010 Code:502L

Window view oil on canvas 25 x 40 Year:2004 Code:504L

Elgin Crescent, lime and pink acrylic on board 25 x 35 Year:2008 Code:520L

Venice, Campo Sta Marina oil on canvas 40 x 50 Year:2013 Code:522L

Awaiting Catalogue entry for Image: images/527L.jpg

Venice, Palazzo Grimani watergate oil on canvas 66 x 70 Year:2012 Code:530L

Venice, Palazzo GrimaniWatergate 2 oil on canvas 71 x 66 Year:2011 Code:531L

Venice, Campo Santa Marina oil on canvas 40 x 50 Year:2011 Code:537L

Venice, Palazzo Grimani Watergate 5 oil on canvas 71 x 66 Year:2011 Code:540L

Venice, Il Redentore pastel on paper 22 x 29 Year:2007 Code:571L

Trees oil on canvas 20 x 24 Year:2022 Code:573L

Self portrait oil on canvas 40 x 50 Year:2007 Code:578L

Murray Chalk on paper 30 x 20 Year:2010 Code:597L

Venice self portrait oil on canvas 50 x 60 Year:2016 Code:599L

Dahlias Oil on canvas 30 x 40 cm Year:200 Code:602L

Venice, Il Redentore oil on canvas 51x 75 Year:2016 Code:631L

Red Horse Chestnut pastel on paper 39 x 28 Year:2010 Code:692L

Awaiting Catalogue entry for Image: images/833L.jpg

African baby linocut 12 x 15 Year:2015 Code:846L

African baby 3 linocut 12 x 15 Year:2018 Code:854L

Self Portrait Oil on canvas 30 x 40 cm Year:200 Code:917L

Caroline oil on canvas 70 x 50 Year:2008 Code:969L

Exhibitions

2021 Rowley Gallery window show, London
2020 Russell Gallery, London
2020 New English Art Club, Mall Galleries, London.
2019 Russell Gallery, London
2019 New English Art Club, Mall Galleries, London.
2019 AAH (Artists At Home), Hammersmith and Chiswick.
2018 AAH, Hammersmith and Chiswick.
2016 AAH, Hammersmith and Chiswick.
2015 Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait exhibition, Kings Place, London
2014 Venice Revisited, studio show 28 Elgin Crescent W11
2013 Calli e Campielli, studio show 28 Elgin Crescent W11
2013 Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait exhibition, Kings Place, London
2011 Dulwich Art Gallery Open Exhibition
2011 Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait exhibition, Kings Place, London
2010 Venice and London, paintings and pastels, 28 Elgin Crescent, W11
2008 Dulwich Picture Gallery Friends Autumn Exhibition.
2007 Studio Show, 28 Elgin Crescent, London W1.
2007 Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
1998 An Exhibition of Summer Paintings, Leone Cockburn Gallery, Edinburgh.
1996 The Italian Connection, Vicarage Cottage Gallery, North Shields.
1996 Paintings from Italy, Leone Cockburn Gallery, Edinburgh.
1995 Under Southern Skies, Paintings of the Italian Landscape by Joy Girvin, Nerys Johnson and Isobel Johnstone. Woodlands Art Gallery, Greenwich.
1991 Italian Landscape, solo exhibition, Terrace Gallery, Worthing.
1989 Italian Landscape solo exhibition, Gardner Centre, University of Sussex.
1969 Arbroath Art Prize, Arbroath Art Gallery (prizewinner).
1967 Pernod Art Exhibition, Edinburgh (prizewinner).

Biography

Exhibitions