Elizabeth Blackadder is widely recognised as one of Scotland’s most significant twentieth century artists. Awarded the Carnegie Travelling Scholarship and an Andrew Grant Postgraduate Scholarship, Blackadder’s travels founded a passion that is reflected in her art, the attention to detail she applied to her surroundings bringing her paintings to life. Working mostly in oils and watercolours, Blackadder was also a prolific printmaker. The inspiration she took from different mediums can be seen throughout the sketchbooks from this bequest.
In this sketchbook, Blackadder captures a series of atmospheric landscapes. Working in pencil, she captures the overcast skies and brooding ancient ruins of Scottish seaside towns. On page 46, for example, she captures the famous cathedral arch and medieval tower in St Andrews, the silhouette drawn dark against the sky. These drawings are interspersed by sketches of Blackadder’s beloved cats who often appeared in her work.
