Identity

John Henry Lorimer was born in Edinburgh on 12th August 1856 and died in Fife on 4th November 1936. During his 80 years, he completed nearly 400 oil paintings, including almost 130 portraits. Portraiture became his main source of income, a talent that enabled him to create his beloved landscapes and paintings of everyday family and domestic life.

As an adolescent, he was tutored by George Paul Chalmers and William McTaggart at The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA), where he first exhibited at 17. In the years that followed, he endeavoured to see and study the galleries of Europe: France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Holland - although he always looked forward to returning home to Scotland.

John Henry created most of his paintings in his turret studio at Kellie, a space he once compared to the cabin of a ship in a storm. In later life, he worked from his townhouse in Edinburgh or The Gyles, the house in Pittenweem harbour that he restored when he was 74. He also spent time painting in London and Paris, where he studied under the artist Carolus-Duran for two months in 1884.

Unlike his contemporaries, John Henry never attached himself to a group or movement. He chose to work alone, striving to capture the characters and landscapes around him with accuracy and sensitivity.

The audioguide for Reflections: The light and life of John Henry Lorimer is presented and produced by the exhibition co-curator, Charlotte Lorimer. It includes the panels of text displayed in the exhibition, as well as dramatised readings of family letters and memoirs, performed by Clive Russell, George Lorimer, Ed Wade, Natasha Jobst and Sarah Haynes. The audioguide also includes twelve original poems by Christine de Luca. The exhibition runs from 6th November 2021 to 20th March 2022 at The City Art Centre in Edinburgh.