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Mackay, Lucinda Louise, Lady, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Inchcape (artist) (b 1941)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: b 1941

Biography

Lucinda Louise Mackay was born in Berkshire, England on 13 December 1941 and brought up in South Ayrshire, Scotland. Her father Kenneth Mackay (1917-1994) was the Third Earl of Inchcape, and chairman of the P&O shipping line, while her mother, Aline Thorn Pease ‘Pixie’ (1919-2010), was the daughter of Sir Richard Arthur Pease, 2nd Baronet Pease of Hummersknott. Her parents divorced in 1954, both later re-marrying.

Privately educated until 1951, Mackay later attended Hurst Lodge in Berkshire (1951-1953), the Châtelard School in Les Avants, Switzerland (1954-1958) and Kirby Lodge School, Cambridge (1959-1960), before embarking on her university studies in Fine Art at Edinburgh College of Art at the University of Edinburgh (1960-1965). During her time at university, she was an active member of the University of Edinburgh Dramatic Society, acting and also specialising in set design.

In 1964, towards the end of her studies, she travelled to Cappadocia in Turkey to undertake research for her degree thesis, writing on "The Annunciation Scene in Cappadocian Painting." She graduated with Honours in Fine Art the following year in 1965, having studied under Professor David Talbot Rice. Other notable teachers included Sir Robin Philipson, later to be President of the Royal Scottish Academy; Professor David Michie, son of artist Anne Redpath; Jimmy Cumming; John Busby; Denis Peploe; Dame Elizabeth Blackadder and Sir William Gillies.

Mackay later pursued postgraduate studies at the Central School of Art and Design in London, specialising in illustration (1973-1974). Her studies continued in later years, undertaking a Scotvec National Certificate in Information Technology at Telford College of Further Education, Edinburgh (1989-90) and a course in advanced botanic illustration at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh (2001).

Alongside her painting career, Mackay has also taught art, pottery, design, and ceramics in schools in Edinburgh, the East Ham and Bethnal Green areas of London, and Essex (1966-1982).

Mackay’s artistic work encompasses portraits, still life, landscapes, imaginative composition, cartoons, botanical illustration, ink and pencil sketches, line drawings, and ceramics. Much of her work is characterised by bold brushwork and vibrant colours. She has also written books of poetry, journal articles, and has illustrated third party publications.

Published and self-published books of her own writing include: 'Poems' by Lucinda Mackay, published by Tuba Press, London, 1980; 'Lucidities' by Lucinda Mackay, published by Tuba Press, London, 1989; 'New twelve days of Christmas by Lucinda Mackay', self-published by Lucinda Mackay, 1999; 'Fun de siecle: a collection of nonsense for the turn of the century' by Naomi de Plume (pen name), self-published by Lucinda Mackay, 1999; and 'The Zoology Anthology: a jesty bestiary' by Naomi de Plume (pen name), self-published by Lucinda Mackay, 2015.

Prominent painting subjects include Nobel laureates Professor Peter Higgs (Physics Prize, 2013) and Professor Sir Fraser Stoddart (Chemistry Prize, 2016); Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal of the University of Edinburgh; Professor John Erickson, a leading expert on soviet military history; opera singer Ian Caddy; Professor David Daiches CBE and his brother Lionel Daiches QC; Professor Donald Leach, Principal of Queen Margaret University; Professor Sir Robert Grieve, town planner; Sheriff Isobel Anne Poole; Professor Alexander McCall Smith; Professor Duncan Macmillan; singer Lorraine Veitch Rutherford; The Reverend John Whitley, hospital chaplain; Ivor Guild, solicitor; John Grant Wood, headmaster of Firhill Comprehensive School, Edinburgh; Professor Sir Ian Wilmut, geneticist; Professor David Munro, former director of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society; Rosalind Newton, former director of the High Blood Pressure Foundation; Mollie Marcellino, first female president of the Scottish Arts Club; David Cavaye, banker; Christe Shade Aderemi, wife of Justice Pius Olayiwola Aderemi; Rabindra Pratap Shah, Inspector General of Nepal Police; Alice Robertson, daughter-in-law of the late Professor Giles Robertson; Graham Dunstan Martin, French lecturer, University of Edinburgh; The Reverend Martin Hollingworth; Edward Harper, composer and lecturer, University of Edinburgh, Dr Emre Araci, composer, conductor, and freelance lecturer; Rosanne Peploe, former wife of Guy Peploe; Roddy Martine, journalist and former editor of Scottish Field; James Bailey, artist and set designer; Winifred Rushforth, psychoanalyst; Maximillian Wykes Joyce, art critic; Professor Neil Tennent, philosopher and logician; Suzanne Dover, psychotherapist; Broderick Haldane, society photographer; and Justice Isabel Köhne, née Moeder, of Germany.

Mackay has exhibited across the United Kingdom, in both mixed exhibitions and one-person shows. These include:

One-person shows: Edinburgh College of Art (1965); Paperback Bookshop Gallery, Edinburgh (1965); Ian Clarkson Gallery, Edinburgh (1967); Upper Grosvenor Gallery, London (1971 & 1972); Geffrye Museum, London (1974) [now The Museum of the Home]; Queens Elm Pub Gallery, Fulham Road (1976/1977); Dundee Repertory Theatre (circa 1979/1980); The Scottish Gallery, George Street, Edinburgh (1985); Addison Ross Gallery, Belgravia, London (1989); Queen's Hall Concert Theatre, Edinburgh (1999); The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London (2001); Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh (2002 & 2022); The Torrance Gallery, Edinburgh (1990, 1995, 1998, 2005, 2015 & 2018); The New Club, Edinburgh (2004); The Randolph Gallery, Edinburgh (2007); The Italian Cultural Institute, Edinburgh (1991 & 2008); The Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh (2011); and the 'Police Box', Drummond Place, Edinburgh (2019).

Mixed shows: Paperback Bookshop Gallery, Edinburgh (1966); Royal Scottish Academy (circa 1981; 1986 for 'The Morrison Portrait Award Exhibition'; & 1987 for the 'Academy Summer Exhibition'); the City Art Centre, Edinburgh (1986); the Mall Galleries, London (circa 1987); The Italian Cultural Institute, Edinburgh (1991); The Scottish Gallery, Dundas Street, Edinburgh (1993); and The Forum, Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh, in aid of the Bethany Trust (2004).

Mackay’s paintings reside in both private and public collections including the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh; Abbotsford, Melrose; Geffrye Museum, London; Scottish Arts Council (now Creative Scotland), Edinburgh; Royal Overseas League, London; London College of Music; Royal Edinburgh Hospital; and Barlinnie Prison, Glasgow.

An active advocate for the arts, Mackay has served on the Committee of The Scottish Society; the Council of the Scottish Arts Club; the Associate Members’ Liaison Committee of Edinburgh’s New Club; the Executive and Editorial Committees of Edinburgh University Graduates’ Association; and as Patron of the Edinburgh University String Orchestra. She has also held artist residencies at Birkhill School in Dundee (1999) and at Newtyle and Auchterhouse Schools in Angus (2001).

Mackay settled permanently in Edinburgh in 1977, where she married Sheriff David Bogie in 1983; the couple divorced in 1987. She has travelled widely in Europe, alongside visits to the United States, Russia, Turkey, and the Far East.

Biographical information has been taken from Lady Lucinda Mackay’s donated curriculum vitaes, in addition to her published memoir, ‘My Life as an Artist’ (2023) and conversations with the artist herself.

Found in 9 Collections and/or Records:

Lady Lucinda Mackay Archive

 Collection
Identifier: MSS.50707-50842
Scope and Contents This collection reflects the personal life and artistic career of Lady Mackay (b.1941). The papers contain correspondence, sketchbooks and loose artworks, writing drafts and proofs, school records, personal and art-related photographs, family papers, and career-related ephemera.The collection has been arranged into five distinct series as follows:1. Correspondence of Lucinda Mackay (with friends, close acquaintances, painting subjects, patrons, other artists, and...
Dates: 1941-2022

Papers of Lucinda Mackay relating to her artistic practice, 1959-2022

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MS.50735-MS.50786
Scope and Contents

This sub-series contains a collection of Lucinda Mackay's sketchbooks spanning the period [?1970]-2012, featuring observational sketches from everyday life and travels in Scotland, England, Europe, Turkey, and China. Also present are 6 portfolios of loose artworks and 16 photograph albums/folders documenting the artist's completed paintings.

Dates: 1959-2022

Papers of Lucinda Mackay relating to her artistic practice, writing, and teaching, 1965-2022

 Series
Identifier: MS.50735-MS.50819
Scope and Contents

This series documents Lady Mackay's professional career as an artist, writer and teacher, containing her art-related papers, her publishing papers, art administration papers, a collection of art-related ephemera, and a file on her teaching career in England and Scotland.

Dates: 1965-2022

Portfolio of loose artworks by Lucinda Mackay, Circa 1997

 File
Identifier: MS.50766
Scope and Contents This portfolio contains 35 loose drawings by the artist. Mediums used include ink, crayon, and watercolour. Pages appear to have been pulled from a spiral-bound sketchbook. The majority of drawings are untitled. Images depict everyday life, alongside more detailed studies of individuals, animals/pets, and professionals at work, including hairdressers, construction workers, magicians, florists, bagpipers; and musicians; alongside parents with children. The original marbled hardback portfolio...
Dates: Majority of material found within Circa 1997

Portfolio of loose artworks by Lucinda Mackay, concerning 'Insect Furniture Designs' and 'Jewellery Designs', Circa 1973-circa 2014

 File
Identifier: MS.50770
Scope and Contents This portfolio contains 5 pages of jewellery designs created by Lucinda Mackay whilst studying jewellery design at Sir John Cass School of Art in East London, circa 1973. It also contains 24 pages of furniture design created by Lucinda Mackay, circa 2013, in which the artist takes insects as inspiration for common home furniture pieces.Titles annotated by the artist include: Insect furniture designs1. Leaf insect bed or chaise-longue (phyllium scythe),...
Dates: Majority of material found within Circa 1973-circa 2014

Portfolio of loose artworks by Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Life Drawings', Circa 1964-2004

 File
Identifier: MS.50768
Scope and Contents This portfolio contains 26 loose drawings. Mediums used include ink, pencil, and crayon. The drawings consist primarily of life drawing studies. Titles and contextual details for the drawings have been provided by the artist as follows: 1. Seated Man with Pole. Art College study early 1960s.2. Art College Reclining Nude, circa 1964.3. Seated Girl. Done at Edinburgh College of Art circa 1964.4. Girl Lying Down. Art College...
Dates: Majority of material found within Circa 1964-2004

Portfolio of loose artworks by Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Portrait drawings and East London prints.', 1967-2020

 File
Identifier: MS.50767
Scope and Contents This portfolio contains 100 loose drawings. Mediums used include ink, pencil, and crayon, whilst artistic techniques in evidence also include lithography and etching. Titles and contextual details for the drawings have been provided by the artist as follows: 1. Professor Geoffrey Boulton, Geologist. Vice Principal of...
Dates: 1967-2020

Portfolio of loose artworks by Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Sundry Studies', 1960-2011

 File
Identifier: MS.50769
Scope and Contents This portfolio contains over 120 loose drawings. Mediums used include ink, pencil, watercolour, and crayon.Titles and contextual details for the drawings have been provided by the artist as follows: 1. Painters, Stepney.2. Sheep.3. Lake Geneva near Lausanne, Switzerland.4. Botanical study. Watercolour.5. Big Beam Engine. Pencil.6. Pressing Points. Thick ink sketch.7. Man in Athens....
Dates: 1960-2011

Portfolio of loose artworks by Lucinda Mackay [Everyday studies], Circa 1997

 File
Identifier: MS.50765
Scope and Contents This portfolio contains 73 loose drawings by the artist. Mediums used include ink, crayon, and watercolour. Pages appear to have been pulled from a spiral-bound sketchbook. The majority of drawings are untitled. Images depict everyday city scenes, alongside more detailed studies of individuals and animals. A series of images show artists at work in studios and in nature. A watercolour sketch also shows an orchestra during a musical performance. Edinburgh is noted as the location for one...
Dates: Majority of material found within Circa 1997