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 101 Collections and/or Records:
Ephemera collected by Lucinda Mackay relating to her career, 1959-2014
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.
Family Papers of Lucinda Mackay, 1941-2022
This series contains correspondence, ephemera, research notes, and personal photograph albums documenting Lucinda Mackay's family life, from birth to the present day. It also includes preparatory drafts and notes towards an as-yet-unpublished memoir entitled 'My Life as an Artist.'
Folder of photographic prints of completed works by Lucinda Mackay, 1960s-2020
Illustrated Publication: 'In the City' , 1970
This file contains a copy of Professor Cedric Cullingford's book, In the City, with illustrations by Lucinda Mackay.
Lady Lucinda Mackay Archive
Letter of Lady Lucinda Mackay to Adele Stewart on her artistic career.
Letters and cards of Lady Lucinda Mackay to Adele Stewart.
Letters of Lucinda Mackay regarding the publication 'The zoology anthology: a jesty bestiary', 2014-2015
Correspondents include designer Mark Blackadder; Brian Torrance; the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland; and National Museums of Scotland
Lists and contents of various files and albums created by Lucinda Mackay to accompany her archive material, 2004-2016
Inventories relate to Accession 13504 and Accession 13754
Lists and contents of various files and albums prepared by Lucinda Mackay; and a copy of Lucinda Mackay's curriculum vitae, circa 2004-2014
Inventory relates to Accession 13504
Lists and contents of various files and albums prepared by Lucinda Mackay and her assistant, 2014-2021
Inventories relate to Acc.13754 and Acc.14248
Notes on the illustrations to be included in the autobiography of Lucinda Mackay, 2022
This series contains correspondence, ephemera, research notes, and personal photograph albums documenting Lucinda Mackay's family life, from birth to the present day. It also includes preparatory drafts and notes towards an as-yet-unpublished memoir entitled 'My Life as an Artist.'
Notes towards the autobiography of Lucinda Mackay; and an addition entitled 'My Approach to Being an Artist', 2022
This series contains correspondence, ephemera, research notes, and personal photograph albums documenting Lucinda Mackay's family life, from birth to the present day. It also includes preparatory drafts and notes towards an as-yet-unpublished memoir entitled 'My Life as an Artist.'
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 concerning art administration, publicity, and public engagement, 1970-2016
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.
Papers of Lucinda Mackay concerning work lists, price lists, and locations of some works, 1985-2010
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.
Papers of Lucinda Mackay relating to Artist Residencies, 1999-2001, 2011
Papers regarding Mackay's residencies at Birkhill Primary School; and Newtyle and Auchterhouse Schools between 1999-2001. File also includes an artist's statement by Mackay as part of an application for an artist's residency at CERN, the European Organization For Nuclear Research, in Geneva.
Papers of Lucinda Mackay relating to her academic education and artistic training, 1961-2016
This series documents Lucinda Mackay's early education in Switzerland at the Châtelard School, Les Avants (1954-1958), and her subsequent education and training at Edinburgh College of Art (University of Edinburgh) (1960-1965) and the Central School of Art and Design, London (1973-1974).
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.
Papers of Lucinda Mackay relating to her teaching roles, 1977-2014
File contains letters from previous pupils and fellow teachers; material pertaining to applications for teaching positions; third party references; curriculum vitaes; and teaching material and syllabi.
Mackay taught art, pottery, design, and ceramics in schools in Edinburgh, the East Ham and Bethnal Green areas of London, and Essex between 1966-1982.
Papers of Lucinda Mackay relating to her writing and illustration work, 1964-2022
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.
Papers of Lucinda Mackay relating to public speaking engagements, 1994-2006
Papers relating to the publication 'The zoology anthology: a jesty bestiary', 2014-2015
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.