Standing on Giants’ shoulders – Angel Mitov

The exhibition will showcase a diverse collection of figurative and portrait work, alongside plein air paintings that capture the vibrant essence of Scottish countryside.

This exhibition showcases a selection of figurative and portrait work created during my time as a student at the Glasgow Academy of Fine Art. Living near the breathtaking Loch Lomond has offered me endless inspiration, and I am excited to present plein air landscapes capturing the beauty of the surrounding area. Alongside these works, you will find studies after old masters, whose timeless techniques and insights have been crucial in shaping the way I paint today.

Painting from life is at the core of my practice. Unlike photography, which tends to flatten images and reduce the interplay of color and light into rigid patterns, life painting captures the dynamic and subtle relationships that bring the painting to life. The delicate nuances of flesh tones and the fleeting effects of light can only truly be observed and translated through the artist’s eye.

Over the next five years, Angel Mitov immersed himself in rigorous study, focusing exclusively on drawing and painting from life and copying the old masters. The leaning involved exploration of the human figure, still life compositions and landscape studies, all from observation.