Gray's lecturer wins award at RSA Annual Exhibition

Gray’s Painting lecturer, Lyndsey Gilmour, has won the Lyon and Turnbull Award for Painting at the RSA Annual Exhibition, the largest and longest-running exhibition of contemporary art in Scotland, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to visual arts in Scotland.

Lyndsey’s oil painting on steel, entitled, ‘First Floor Left’, draws on observation and memory to explore the relationship between objects and space. She paints on 1mm thick sheet steel to amplify the flatness of the painting’s surface in comparison to the wall it hangs on.

This is the first time the RSA’s exhibition is available to view entirely online as well as in the magnificent surroundings of the RSA galleries in Edinburgh. Lyndsey is also presenting two further pieces of work in the online RSA's Annual Exhibition. 

Speaking about her success, Aberdeen based Lyndsey Gilmour who has been teaching at Gray’s since 2016 said: “I was really honoured to be invited to exhibit at The RSA Annual Exhibition and furthermore to have won the Lyon and Turnbull Award.   I hope my work resonates with the audience and helps to promote contemporary painting in the northeast.

“Teaching in the Painting department at Gray’s School of Art enables me to work with students, on a daily basis, to grow our knowledge of contemporary painting practice. All three of my colleagues in the painting department have their work on display in the RSA galleries, along with a number of our Painting alumni who are represented within the online and physical exhibitions. It is excellent to see the contribution that Painting at Gray’s is making to the ongoing discussion regarding our subject and the discipline within Scotland as a whole.   

Head of Gray’s School of Art, Libby Curtis said: “Wonderful news that Lyndsey has won the Lyon and Turnbull Award for Painting at The RSA Annual Exhibition. Her achievement offers so much inspiration to Gray’s Painting students who can benefit from her insight, knowledge, and passion for the subject of Painting.”

Now in its 196th year, the Annual RSA Exhibition provides a platform for contemporary painting, sculpture, film, printmaking, photography and installation, alongside work by some of the country’s leading architects. The exhibition runs until 12 June 2022. Artworks are available to purchase.

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