Biography

Michael Hepburn standing in front of one of his painting of a male African lion with its cub.

Michael Hepburn is a Scottish artist who specialises in pastel paintings and is primarily self-taught. He prefers pastels because of the wide range of pre-mixed colour variations and soft appearance of the finished work. His main aim is to produce a warm naturalistic effect; through colour, light and tonal values.

Michael’s paintings cover a number of genres; including seascapes, landscapes, figurative, still life and wildlife. He grew up in Greenock near the Firth of Clyde, which is a place with a long shipbuilding tradition, and why maritime art is close to his heart. His dad used to work on the paddle steamers and brought Michael with him on numerous trips. These excursions nurtured Michael’s interest in the subject – an interest that is still with him to this day. Furthermore, his high school art teacher was renowned maritime artist James Watt.

His work has been exhibited at The Royal Scottish Academy, The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine arts, The Pastel Society in London and a variety of other galleries throughout the UK.

Michael works mainly from commissions. Due to the demand for his originals, he has decided to have some of his artwork made into giclée prints and fine art cards, so that his output can be seen by a wider audience.

Among Michael’s favourite artists are Michelangelo, Albrecht Dürer, Jan Vermeer, Edgar Degas and Joaquin Sorolla. All five artists have influenced Michael’s work, and his style of painting has been likened to that of French Impressionist Alfred Sisley.

His work resides in a number of private collections across the UK, Europe and North America. A few notable examples in the UK are the McLean Museum, the late Sir Arnold Clark, The Clyde Maritime Trust, Clydeport (now Peel Ports), the late Norman Godman MP, Cory Tugs, Clyde Shipping Tugs and Karlsen Shipping.

Upcoming, Current and Recent Exhibitions

  • Winter Exhibition at Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie: 16th November – 21st December 2024.
  • Hepburn Fine Art Pop-Up Exhibition (Solo show) at Medinelli’s Pop-Up Shop, Gourock: 14th – 20th October 2024.
  • Big Art Show 2024, Paisley: 30th August – 16th November 2024.
  • Summer Exhibition at Rowan Gallery, Helensburgh: 13th July – 30th August 2024.
  • Christmas Exhibition at Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie: 11th November – 20th December 2023.
  • The Art of the Pastel (Solo show) at Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock: 2nd September – 28th October 2023.