Time once again to bask in the blues, this time courtesy of Edinburgh-based artist Alison Dickson.

Originally from Northern Ireland, Alison paints landscapes and still lifes with a primary palette of blues and greens.

All of her paintings are inspired by the natural world; landscapes and seascapes under weather-laden skies are a common theme.

I love that combination of dark sky and bright sunshine just before a downpour, or the hopefulness that bad weather has just passed . . . I’m interested in the contrasting shapes and marks on the land, sea and sky, and the locations are all very dear to me.

Her still life paintings, which mostly feature plants and flowers, are marked by a simplicity of line and color.

My still life work reflects my enduring fascination with flowers – the compositions often include everyday objects and patterns as I explore the themes of belonging, identity and memory.

Dickson works on board in acrylics or oils, creating texture by building up layers with paint and collage techniques, working the surface with skewers and knives, anything to hand, creating shifting dynamics within each piece.

She approaches her paintings in a structured way, but then carries them forward intuitively:

That way, every painting feels like an adventure – you never quite know where you’re going to end up.

Alison’s blues feel calm, soothing and restorative. I like how she creates mood with free flowing strokes and textures. Her still lifes, especially the ones with more subdued colors, speak of the gentle joys of domesticity. I appreciate her pretty and feminine florals with their delicate details and engaging compositions. Also interesting is how some of her pieces combine landscape with still life (as in the first painting in this post).

Alison’s work appears in collections throughout the UK, Ireland and further afield, most famously that of the comedian Michael McIntyre. Her paintings have also been shown in both solo and group exhibitions, including those of the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour.

Visit Alison Dickson’s Official Website to purchase originals, and her Etsy Shop for limited edition prints and fine art cards. Check out this Linktree for a list of online galleries that also sell her pieces. Keep up with latest news at her Facebook Page.

Meet Alison and learn a little about her process in this short video:

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