SAM MACDONALD
SCULPTOR
“My artistic endeavour is to observe and capture fleeting moments of nature.
I try to express an emotional response
to something very private: a moment
shared between man and nature.”
About
the Artist
Trained at Camberwell School of Art
BA (Hons), London
2001
Pier Arts Centre Stromness
2006
Institute Of Medical Science, Aberdeen
2008
Stornoway, Isles of Lewis
2009
P&O Azura
Sam, who now lives in East Lothian, grew up on the Isle of Lewis and, after 4 years at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts training in Silversmithing and Metalwork, lived on Orkney for 19 years. This enabled his love of fishing, diving and the sea to combine with his developing skills in metalwork. Sam uses old, traditional metal work techniques to produce contemporary and unique works. He creates impressions of fish, using the tactile effects that metal, its processes and techniques have to offer.
Travelling internationally to fly fish has opened up new inspiration for Sam. Fishing in Venezuela, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic for bonefish, permit, tarpon and barracuda have been the source of inspiration for many recent pieces. As has salmon and trout fishing in Iceland, Pakistan and Mexico.
Sam is a Signature Member of The Society of Animal Artists USA and a member of the Redspot Artist group
He has been featured on BBC 2s ‘Coast’ programme and has featured in Wildlife Art Journal and X-ray International Diving Magazine.
Work has been acquired for private collections all over the world and Sam has recently installed a large salmon piece in the prestigious West Ranga Lodge in Iceland.
In 2012 Sam had a large solo show in The Gallery, Cork Street, London. He has also shown at various group exhibitions in galleries including the House of Bruar, CLA Game Fairs, the Royal Scottish Academy, The Wykeham Gallery and Visions West Gallery, Montana.
‘My artistic endeavor is to observe and capture fleeting moments of nature. I try to express an emotional response to something very private, a moment shared between man and nature.’
Published
Quotes
‘There are many ways to record a memorable fish for posterity. But metal? Artist Sam MacDonald works in pewter, gold leaf and brass and he has taken many years to build a vocabulary of marks and colours in metal. The results are stunning.’
Trout and Salmon October 2011
‘What at first glance looks like paintings are more like 3D sculptures made from metal, with a very particular character that lends itself very well to fish and underwater subjects and a stunning amount of naturalism and detail considering the material.’
Global Fly Fisher 2013
‘For an artist who uses traditional metalwork techniques, capturing the complexities of living game fish seems like a tall order. But from his workshop in Perthshire, Scotland, Sam Macdonald creates, stunning relief sculptures in which the fish seem to almost leap off the background.
American Angler Nov/Dec 2011
SAM MACDONALD
SCULPTOR
© Sam MacDonald 2016
All images on this site are protected by International Copyright Law