Who is Alex Houston?
Who is Alex?
Alex was born and raised in Scotland where he studied at the renowned Glasgow School of Art. He has been a practicing artist for over 40 years. Alex enjoys painting a range of subjects including people and portraits, animals and scenery and landscapes utilising a variety of methods, techniques, tools, paints and canvas.
Alex’s work has previously been purchased by both Scottish and English government organisations and by private collectors in the UK, Europe and Canada.
In the early 90's Alex, showing his true eccentricity, decided to leave the rat-race behind and relocated to a remote croft in the Scottish Highlands. It is here Alex's work is created, gaining inspiration from the scenery and solitude of the Highlands. In a Heath Robinson-style converted tin roof shed that he created himself, with straw-stuffed feed bags from the farm for insulation. There is only an ancient rusted wood burning stove for heat, no central heating, no TV, no internet connection, no mobile signal, no hot water, and it’s only his electric blanket that keeps him alive in the winter, where it gets down to as low as -20oC. To say he lives the simple life is an understatement - but he truly loves it as he has lived like this for 28 years and never plans to move. As well as running the Croft with 100 sheep and 25 cattle, he is still teaching art as a supply teacher, at the age of 77!
By embracing the "hermit" lifestyle and thriving in it Alex has not exhibited or sold any of his work in almost 30 years, for his art to be pure and uncorrupted he feels should not allow material entrapments or peoples opinion to influence his art.
Alex paints mainly in oils, on wood - and his pictures range from 20cm x 20cm to larger than 2 meters x 2 meters. Each painting is produced using many different techniques, some more common and some unique to Alex's work.
A note from Magnus
Hi there, I'm Magnus Houston. Alex's son ...
As you are reading this you might think "well he's put up this website so he can't be that cut off from the world". I can assure you that Alex has not changed and he doesn't want and hasn't wanted any involvement with this website, exhibit of art or the sale of his paintings. The only reason that I have his full consent for everything I'm doing is we both believe it would be better for his work to be enjoyed, even by just a handful of people rather than have them secreted into outbuildings on a Scottish Highland croft.
CV
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Education:
Glasgow School of Art, 1964
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Grants & Awards:
Paid one year traveling scholarship for Europe by Glasgow School of art.
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Preferred material and paint:
Marine plywood, hardboard and oil paints
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Method:
Brush, fingers, sticks, spray paint.
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Style:
Varying but predominantly it has been the way it feels to Alex
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Exhibitions:
Alex has not let anyone see his work for over 30 years but hopefully in the future his work will be in exhibits and for private sale.
