About
1989-1993 BA (Hons) - Edinburgh College of Art
1996-1997 MDes - Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee
1998-1999 PGCE in Primary Education at Moray House College of Education, Edinburgh
2023 - Tutor at Paintbox Art School, Cockenzie House and Gardens
Gardens
Donaldson's work is based on gardens, woodlands and Country Estates. ”The garden for me is a place of quiet, a place to stop, an almost religious 'building‘. It has witnessed the brevity of life, the joy and transience of beauty, the daily toil, death and re-birth, the seasons of life. I want my art to reflect these seasons.“Her work is becoming increasingly more referential and not entirely realistic, inviting the viewer's participation and hopefully giving a glimpse into the life, toil, death and re-birth of the creative journey. 'Working quickly building up layers, the work takes on its own life and often ends up in a way I could never have predicted or planned. I enjoy these surprises!'
Portraits
Traditionally portraits were painted for the rich and were an opportunity for them to show off their wealth and position in society. Donaldson's approach, however, is different. She gathers inspiration from a variety of sources, including social media, the internet and family albums. The images include friends, fashion models, self-portraits, relatives and refugees ( including her husband who was a refugee for ten years in Kenya). There is a seeming disconnect between the subjects but, by focusing purely on the face, Donaldson removes all traces of background and history, putting each subject on a level playing field, thereby forcing the viewer to create their own narrative for each portrait. The trappings that we place importance on to rate one above another are removed and the viewer is faced only with life’s equalizer, what it is to be human. It is a reminder that we are each, only, a very small part of a much bigger picture. It leaves us unsure of who is who, removing many of the societal assumptions but leaving the viewer with possible new imagined narratives
Since graduating from Edinburgh College of art in 1993, Esther has exhibited and sold work regularly in galleries across Britain, including the RSA, SSA the RSW, RWS, the RBA, Mall Galleries and RA Summer show.
Exhibitions
Current
2023 Scottish Portrait Awards, Longlisted artist
2023 Doubtfire 'Wild Bunch' mixed Exhibition
2023 Doubtfire Winter Exhibition
2023 Artist‘s Surface Award @artistsupportpledge
Past
2022 SSA 30 x 30 in RSA
2022 Dundas St Gallery, Edinburgh, April
2022 Tatha Gallery, Dundee, July
2022 RWS, Bankside Gallery, London, Winsor and Newton Award
2022 Irving Contemporary Gallery, Oxford
2021 RSW 141st Open Exhibition in RSA, Edinburgh
2021 Winter Exhibition, Doubtfire Gallery
2021 Doubtfire Gallery, solo show - Oct/Nov
2021 Society of Scottish Artists online Figurative Exhibition
2021 Gallery Heinzel, Spring Exhibition, Aberdeen
2021 Gallery 10, Edinburgh
2021 Art At Glyndbourne, June-Sept, Gallery 94
2021 St Margaret’s House, Edinburgh, Abstractionistas
2021 Irving Contemporary Gallery, Oxford
2020 Number Four Gallery, St Abbs
2020 ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, online, London
2020 Gallery Heinzel Winter Exhibition, Aberdeen
2020 Allanbank Arts Centre Winter Exhibition
2020 Ken Bromley Arts, collaborative work with 11 other artist
2020 Allanbank Arts Centre, Summer Exhibition
2020 Borders Art Fair with Allanbank Arts Centre
2020 House for an Art Lover, Glasgow (Jan- 4th Feb )
2019 Edinburgh Art Fair with Number Four Gallery
2019 House for an Art Lover, Award Winner’s Solo Exhibition (27th Nov - 4th Feb 2020)
2019 Gallery Heinzel, Summer Exhibition
2019 In the Royal Academy Favourites List for the summer show 2019
2019. Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London
2019 Elected a professional member of the SSA
2019 Doubtfire Gallery, Edinburgh
2019 Number Four Galler, St Abbs
2019 Borders Art Fair
2019 SSA exhibition in the RSA, Edinburgh
2018 RSW Exhibition, winner of the ‘House for an Art Lover Award’ 2018
2018 Portobello Art Walk
2018 Dulwich Picture Gallery, Secret Charter Exhibition
2018 Doubtfire Gallery, Stockbridge, Edinburgh (2 Woman Show)
2018 Royal Society of British Artists, Mall Galleries London (March)
2017 Hecla Gallery ( July, Aug, Sept )
2017 Royal Scottish Society of Watercolour Artists, Mound-Edinburgh (Jan)
2017 Doubtfire Gallery (Jan)
2016 Doubtfire Gallery, Winterescence ( Dec)
2016 Art Walk Porty, Portobello (Sept)
2016 Hecla Gallery, Cockenzie House and Gardens (May,June,July)
2016 Doubtfire Gallery, Edinburgh (April) 3 Woman Show
2016 The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh ( January)
2015 SSA, The Royal Scottish Academy - Sit In/Take Away
2015 The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2011 Menier Gallery, London
1998 Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
1998 Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen
1997 Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
1997 Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen
1997 MDES Show, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee
1996 Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
1996 Compass Gallery, Glasgow
1996 Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen
1995 Eastern General Hospital, Edinburgh
1995 Graduate Gallery (Popup Gallery) Edinburgh
1995 Loomshop Gallery, Lower Largo
1995 Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen
1994 Collective Gallery, Edinburgh
1994 Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen
1994 Graduate Gallery (Popup Gallery), Edinburgh
1994 Peter Potter Gallery, Haddington – Solo Exhibition
1994 Loomshop Gallery, Lower Largo
1994 Macaulay Gallery, Stenton
1993 Compass Gallery, Glasgow, ‘New Generation Exhibition’
1993 Clayton Gallery, Newcastle, ‘Ship ‘N’ Shore’ Exhibition
1993 Untitled Gallery (Popup Gallery), Edinburgh
1993 Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen
Reviews, Collections and Awards
REVIEWS
1993 Herald Scotland
1993 Spectrum, Festival review
1993 BBC Scotland News
1993 Herald Scotland
COLLECTIONS
Esther's work can be found in numerous private and public collections across Europe, Canada and America. Public collections include Art in Healthcare and Edinburgh University Collection.
AWARDS and ACHIEVEMENTS
2023 Scottish Portrait Awards Longlist
2023 Artist's Surface Award
2023 Visual Arts and Craft Makers Award, East Lothian Council
2022 Winsor Newton Award at Royal watercolour Society, Bankside Gallery, London
2022 Visual Arts and Craft Makers Award, East Lothian Council
2021 Visual Arts and Craft Makers Award, East Lothian Council
2020 Discerning Eye Exhibition, London
2020 Visual Arts and Craft Makers Award, East Lothian Council
2019 Elected a professional member of the Society of Scottish Artists
2018 House for an Art Lover Award @RSW in the RSA Edinburgh
2019 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition Favourites List