Alexander Colquhoun (artist)

Alexander Colquhoun (1914 - 1991) was a British painter, printmaker and stage designer. He is best known for his contribution to Neo-Romanticism and his association with other artists, particularly Robert MacBryde, with whom he formed a lifelong partnership.

Colquhoun studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1933 to 1937. His work often explored themes of rural life, mythology, and the human figure, rendered in a distinctive style characterized by simplified forms, bold colors, and a sense of drama. He was heavily influenced by European modernism, particularly Picasso and Léger, but incorporated these influences into a uniquely British idiom.

During World War II, Colquhoun served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. After the war, he and MacBryde lived and worked together, exhibiting their work extensively. They were central figures in the post-war British art scene, known for their bohemian lifestyle and contributions to stage design for ballet and theatre.

Colquhoun's work is held in numerous public collections, including the Tate Gallery, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. He is remembered as a significant figure in British art of the mid-20th century, whose work continues to be appreciated for its originality and expressive power.