The Accord Hospice annual exhibition has long been a major event in the Paisley arts calendar. The show offers talented hobby artists the chance to see their work hung alongside established contemporary artists like Rowena Comrie, Penny Wemyss and John Damari, and the opportunity for all participating artists to support the work of the Hospice. Half, or in some cases all, of the sales proceeds from the exhibition goes towards funding the work that Accord does in providing palliative and end-of-life care and support to patients and their families across Renfrewshire.
This year’s show, which opened at the Art Department on 26th April, holds close to 500 artworks and includes a special tribute to beloved local artist Falconer Houston (1934-2023), showing a 20-minute film he directed, My Paisley (courtesy of One Ren), along with eight paintings, 100% of the proceeds from which will be donated to Accord Hospice. Falconer was a much-loved teacher and artist who continued to paint until well into his eighties, donating many works to support Accord, particularly during the Covid pandemic. Some of these lockdown works are on show here – deeply-hued intricate watercolours of places he had visited all over the world, including The House in Guell Park, Barcelona.
The exhibition offers something for every taste and pocket, from little gems at £15, to colourful and highly-detailed acrylics in kerala mural painting style at several thousands. In between, there are glass and ceramics, photography, and paintings of every imaginable size and medium – abstracts, portraits, still-lifes, and landscapes both real and imagined.
Having just visited the newly-opened Wyllieum in Greenock, Dear Glasgow by Stephen Nicholson was of particular interest, with its view of George Wyllie’s paper boat sailing up the Clyde at Finnieston.
The Paisley connection is well-represented, with views of the Russell Institute by two artists, of Barshaw Park, and Paisley Sunset, a delicate watercolour view towards the Town Hall by Stephen Murray.
Homage is also paid to Paisley’s own late, great John Patrick Byrne by Tony MacDonald, in his Byrne-inspired portrait of Dear John.
Away from local inspiration, I enjoyed Ship on the Turn, Aberdeen by Rowena Comrie and the seascape Trevose Head Lighthouse, one of several pieces by Neil Smith where the painting continues across its frame.
The exhibition has its lighter side too – Starman, one of three submissions by self-taught local artist Steve Sharp, shows a Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie and We’ll Head ‘Em off at the Pass is a typically humorous piece by Stan Milne, with a posse of tall-hatted, long bearded men in the Wild West.
If you visit the show, make sure you don’t miss the display of serene coastal landscapes in glass by Graham Muir, including Rannoch Moor, a free-standing fused glass panel mounted on a beautiful naturalistic hardwood base.
The Accord Hospice exhibition is proudly sponsored by Paisley First and runs on the ground floor at The Art Department, Causeyside Street, Paisley until Friday 10th May.
Thanks from Artmag go to Lisa Watt of Outspoken Arts, and to David McFadden of Accord Hospice for their kind help, and to Gordon Reid for this review.
