Mackay, Lucinda Louise, Lady, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Inchcape (artist) (b 1941)
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 35 Collections and/or Records:
Lady Lucinda Mackay Archive
Original sketchbooks and portfolios of loose artworks by Lucinda Mackay, 1960-2021
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.
Papers of Lucinda Mackay relating to her artistic practice, 1959-2022
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.
Papers of Lucinda Mackay relating to her artistic practice, writing, and teaching, 1965-2022
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.
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay., Circa 1970
Small pocketsize hardback sketchbook containing 96 pages of ink drawings. Images are untitled and undated. Subject matter consists primarily of character studies of individuals. Artist has supplied the creation date of 'circa 1970', and a manuscript note on the inner back cover gives her address as 60 Elm Park Road, London at the time.
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay., Circa 1976-1982
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay., Circa 1977-1982
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay. , Circa 1977-1982
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay., May- July 1981
Small hardback sketchbook containing 32 pages of drawings. Mediums used include ink, pencil, and crayon. A further 2 pages contain manuscript notes by the artist on the process of preparing stoneware clay, while 38 pages remain unused. Drawing subject matter includes character studies primarily. Two images are dated. Only two are titled as follows 'Café - Camden Town' [Woman, London] and 'Pub - Camden Town 25 July 1981' [Man, London].
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay., [?1985]
Hardback sketchbook containing 68 pages of ink drawings, a further 12 unused pages, and two pages of manuscript notes by the artist documenting art works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The majority of images are undated and untitled, but appear to be located in London. Subject matter includes character studies; Easter Sunday 1985; cityscapes in central London, including Embankment, Charing Cross, the Strand, and Fleet Street.
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay, June-August 1998
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay, September 1999
Hardback sketchbook with woodchip paper containing 50 pages of crayon drawings. All images are untitled and only three have been dated, with each reading as 15 September 1999. Subject matter consists of figure and character studies of people encountered in everyday situations - on the street, in cafés, in shops, in parks, parents with children, workers, and pets with their owners. One image captures a person in a chicken suit [offering] balloons to a young woman.
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay [Edinburgh], January-May 1986
A hardback sketchbook containing 50 pages of drawings in ink and crayon.The majority of images are untitled and undated. Themes and subject matter include character studies, animals, and Edinburgh city scenes. Identified individuals include [?Iain Cameron], [?Jo Mouli], and Mr. Baker (Suffolk).
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'A Trip to the Loire Valley, travel diary', 12-16 October 1998
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Bruges' , September 2009
Sketchbook containing 25 pages of pencil and crayon drawings. The majority of sketches have been dated and their location noted, representing Lucinda Mackay's trip to Bruges, Belgium in 2009. Subjects portrayed include individuals, artists at work, city scenes, and nature scenes.
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Cherry Tree Farm', July 2006
Small spiral-bound sketchbook containing 25 pages of crayon drawings. Includes character studies of children and adults, one being titled as 'James Mackay, aged 1 3/4' and another 'Shane' [?Mackay]. Also contains images of household furniture and objects, childrens' toys, and a large cherry tree.
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Culross Festival Drawings', June-August 1997
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Dance to celebrate the opening of the Van Gogh exhibition in the Dean Gallery, Edinburgh', July 2006
Small hardback sketchbook with red floral cloth cover containing 50 pages of ink drawings representing the dance held on 8 July 2006 to mark an exhibition's opening. Images include brief studies of attendees, musicians, dancers, speakers, and waiting staff. Images are untitled, with one exception, a sketch of speaker [John Leighton].
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Edinburgh Drawings', August 2006
Hardback sketchbook with turquoise and black cloth cover containing 130 pages of crayon drawings. All images are noted by the artist on the inside cover as originating in Edinburgh. Images are undated and largely untitled. Themes depicted include character studies, city scenes, musicians, couples, parents and children, animals, café scenes, cleaners, local shops, and parks.
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Edinburgh Portraits and Figures', 1 September-9 October 2006
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Hogmanay in Dirleton, December 2003-January 2004
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Istanbul.', [?1995.]
Small spiral-bound sketchbook containing 25 pages of ink drawings, documenting the artist's trip to Istanbul, Turkey in [?1995]. Images are untitled and undated. Subject matter consists primarily of character studies with 3-4 images representing local buildings of interest.
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Lausanne and Taipei.', 1982
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'Local Observations', Edinburgh, March-April 2012
Sketchbook containing 25 pages of pencil and crayon drawings and watercolour paintings. The majority of sketches have been dated and their location noted, depicting Edinburgh-based locations including parks, pubs, streets, and cafés, primarily in south Edinburgh around the Morningside, Bruntsfield, and Marchmont areas. Subject matter includes character studies of families, adults, and children.
Sketchbook of Lucinda Mackay entitled 'London.', 1976
Small pocketsize hardback sketchbook containing 68 pages of ink drawings, with a further 10 pages unused. Individual images are undated and untitled. Subject matter consists of character studies.