A MAJOR retrospective exhibition of work
by Bridget Ievers Cox at Summerhall runs
until 5 March 2023
Charles MacLean, the whisky expert,
explained the background of this exhibition
which has a great personal connection for him.
He said: "Bridget Cox was born in the Lake
District at Caldbeck, Cumberland.
"Having completed her foundation course at
Carlisle College of Art in the early 1970s, she
moved to Ireland – the Cox homeland and a
people with which she felt deep affinity – to
train at the University of Ulster, obtaining a BA
(Hons) in Fine Art and later working there as a
tutor in painting.
"She went on to establish a studio in Co.
Galway, where she produced extensively over a
period of 30 years. In 2000 she moved to a
larger studio in Cumberland, choosing to be
closer to family.
"Her talent was prodigious, as I think this
exhibition demonstrates, ranging from
portraiture and still life, to landscape and
abstract painting. Bridget shows herself to be a
true colourist, balancing bright hues with soft,
quiet colour. Complex arrangements of greys
and creamy whites instinctively coordinate cool
with warm. It is this subtle balance of vibrant
and quiet colour that gives Bridget’s still lives asense of calm contemplation and her portraits
a deep empathy.
"We were brought up together and she was
like a sister to me. She was a quintessential
artist: self-centred, self-doubting but
self-sufficient.
"Bridget had a rich, varied and eventful life,
living through the depths of depression to the
peaks of creativity. She enriched the lives of
those who knew her in so many ways –
although she was probably unaware of it.
She exhibited her work in France, Dublin,
Belfast, Galway, London and Carlisle, and her
talent was recognised internationally in 2019
when a painting was included in the National
Portrait Gallery’s International PortraitCompetition – described as “The most
prestigious portrait painting competition in
the world, representing the very best in
contemporary portrait painting”.
"There were 2,538 entrants in 2019 from
84 countries. Only 44 pictures were chosen.
No mean achievement.
“Bridget left her extensive archive to The
MacLean Foundation, a charity set up by my
boys, Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan, with the goal
of providing clean water for communities
around the world. All proceeds from the
exhibition will go to this cause."The Bridget Ievers Cox exhibition will run until 5
March 2023 at Summerhall.18 WHAT’S ON
CULTURE • LITERATURE • EVENTS • MUSIC • MUSEUMS...
This month in history...
A true talent
Posthumous exhibition celebrates the rich, varied work of artist Bridget Cox
IN THE MONTH of February, the following
notable events occurred in Edinburgh...1ST: In 1918, Dame Muriel Spark (author of
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie) was born
Muriel Sarah Camberg in Edinburgh; Spark
spent her childhood in the Bruntsfield area of
Edinburgh and began her working life as a
secretary in a department store.3RD: In 1700, fire destroyed Edinburgh's,
some say Europe's, highest buildings behind
St. Giles. And in 1700, the Darien colony
was abandoned.4TH: In 1520, the masters of the shoemakers
(cordiners) presented a request to the burgh
council that their statutes, articles, and
regulations should be approved; the purpose
of this was to harmonise the many conflictingregulations that had been decided over the
course of time. And in 1649, Charles II
proclaimed king in Edinburgh - but not in
England. Also in 1818, the Crown Jewels of
Scotland were rediscovered in EdinburghCastle by a search party led by Sir Walter Scott;
the jewels had last been used to crown King
Charles II in 1651.5TH: In 1523, Sir William Sinclair of Roslin gave
land beside Rosslyn Chapel as an endowment
for the construction of 4 houses for 4 priests.6TH: In 1875, The Scotsman reported
that the Theatre-Royal in Broughton Street
burnt down.7TH: In 1700, the council considered the
aftermath of the fire that devastated the meal
market, both sides of the slope beside St Giles,
part of the Royal Exchange, and all of
Parliament Close bar the Treasury Room.8TH: In 1626, due to unrest abroad the council
decided that all inhabitants of the city should
be instructed in the rules of war and subject to
military service.10TH: In 1567, at about 2 AM an explosion
destroyed Kirk o'Field which was roughly at
the south east corner of what is today Old
College; Mary, Queen of Scots' husband, Lord
Darnley, was found strangled in a garden
nearby. And in 1800, 34 Princes Street was
advertised for sale in the 'Caledonian Mercury'.King Charles IISt Giles
CathedralEwan, Charlie, Lachlan and Jamie
Self portrait MacLean at the opening night Chinese cloth portrait