THE Green Gallery in Buchlyvie welcomes back Lex McFadyen as their featured artist this September for his third such exhibition in seven years. This new show is entitled ‘A Flower is a Lovesome Thing’ which perfectly invokes the bright images and striking colours of his current work.
All the pieces for this Exhibition have been painted at McFadyen’s studio in Burgundy, France, in the medieval village of Noyers sur Serein which is officially recognised as one of the most beautiful villages of France and known as The Medieval Gem.
Lex’s studio, which fills the top floor of his home in the village, usually resonates to an eclectic playlist of soothing and sometimes inspirational tunes.
More often than not that involves his beloved Joni Mitchell but one Jazz playlist early this year included a song performed by the wonderful Ella Fitzgerald.
‘A Flower is a Lovesome Thing’ was written in the ‘40s but became better known in 1966 when Fitzgerald performed it on a Duke Ellington album. The lyrics resonated perfectly for Lex and he chose it as the title of this new show.
Lex’s love affair with France began at Art School and as soon as he graduated, he set off for Paris where he spent the summer busking on the Metro with his sister Myra. Almost every year since, holidays and longer periods of time have been spent in France. two years were spent looking for a house in Burgundy and despite visiting over 60 houses through estate agents, it was a simple wander into a small Epicerie which led to Noyers sur Serein. Attached to the till was a small sign, ‘Maison a Vendre’ and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.
In 2016 Lex, and his partner Brendan, started organising short Exhibitions called ‘Dix Artistes Ecossaise’ when each summer they brought the work of ten artists to the village from Scotland.
Things developed from there and ‘La Galerie Ecossaise’ was born and is now a permanent feature of Noyers. Brexit has made that complicated and, as well as Scottish artists, there are now displays of work by French, Belgian and even South African artists and ceramicists.
Lex McFadyen loves his life in Burgundy. The long warm summers of France, the strong light, the rolling countryside, and a unique village peppered with other artists and artisans undoubtedly influence the bold, brightness of McFadyen’s work.
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