In the steps of Joseph Farquharson

June 2008

Late snow, Clachnaben – watercolour 50×34 cms, by Roy Benzies: “It was really cold on my first visit and the frost muted the colours of the grass and ferns crunching under my feet.”

by Murray Matthew

Many picnickers can be seen lazing on the banks of the Feugh during the summer, but in winter the narrow road through the Forest o Birse traces a cold and lonely finger far into the Firmounth Hills.

Over a century ago anyone walking in the Birse Woods in winter was liable to come across a curious wooden hut with a glass front. Inside the hut was a figure in fur-lined coat with his legs and feet wrapped against the cold, busily painting a snowy scene. The artist was Joseph Farquharson, Laird of Finzean, whose winter landscapes became known the world over. He was one of a number of prominent 19th – century painters who made Deeside their canvas, many of them winning the patronage of Queen Victoria.

More recently, Insch artist Roy Benzies followed in the footsteps of Joseph Farquharson, and could be seen with easel and artist’s kit crossing racing burns, tramping over hills and through woods to capture the seasonal colours, and light (sometimes warmth!) of the Finzean Estate.

Roy takes up the story. “Having been shown round Woodend by Angus Farquharson OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, in October 2006, I returned in November to start my exploration of the area. It’s important for me to have an open mind when searching for images for paintings and I walked everywhere around Woodend, recording, at strategic points, my thoughts on a micro cassette tape.

“My first thoughts were about how old, rugged and established the trees, rocks and walls were. I saw reflections everywhere, not as I would have thought from the sun on the river, which I haven’t seen here, but from the sunlight playing on the hill opposite. The colours were gold and lime greens from the autumn landscape, not what I expected on the water. It was really cold on this first visit and the frost muted the colours of the grass and ferns crunching under my feet. I have tried to capture this feeling in my paintings.

Views of Clachnaben

“When I first visit a place nothing stands out, but everything bombards my senses. In time the place reveals itself and images for painting stand out. This depends on light and weather. I was very conscious at Woodend of the seasonal changes and tried to imagine the trees with leaves on, later in the year. I looked forward to some snow as this was what Joseph Farquharson was famous for and after all I was trying to explore his estate. Unfortunately no drifts and minimal snow over the past 18 months. Global warming? My increasing visits involved drawing and taking photographic and video reference material. I was then able to group these first images into reflections, paths and woodland.

“More recently Donald and Catriona Farquharson directed me to views of Clachnaben with its prominent large granite tor projecting at the summit, and to views of the estate beyond Woodend suitable for me to work from. I like working outside and then refining and developing work from these studies in the studio. When creating a painting I like to translate images using material effects.

“I am also influenced by landscape artists whose work I admire, for example, Daubigny and Corot. In working around the Finzean Estate I haven’t produced copies of Joseph Farquharson’s landscapes (I didn’t come across sheep, never mind snow! ), or even work resembling his, but I hope the exhibition will show a genuine exploration of the area and will be enjoyed by visitors to the Farm Shop/Tearoom and Gallery’’.

Roy graduated from Gray’s School of Art in1974 and for many years now has been principal teacher of Art and Design at Inverurie Academy. You can see more of his work at Aberdeen Artists website www.aberdeenartistssociety.co.uk. Roy’s latest exhibition runs at the Finzean Estate Farm Shop & Tearoom for the month of June.

–Fact File–

Joseph Farquharson
Born in Edinburgh in 1846, Joseph Farquharson combined a prolific career as a painter with his inherited role as Laird of Finzean in Deeside. Educated in Edinburgh, he was permitted to paint only on Saturdays, using his father’s paint box. When Joseph reached the age of 12, Francis Farquharson bought his son his first paints and just one year later he exhibited his first painting at the RSA. Nearly all the early works, water colours and oils, were inspired by his rural surroundings and he went on to make snow scenes his trademark. The remarkable success of his pictures rests with the fact that they touch people from all walks of life.
Farquharson studied at the Trustees’ Academy in Edinburgh during the 1860s, and then at the Life School at the Royal Scottish Academy. Like other leading Aberdeen artists John Philip and William Dyce, he bypassed Edinburgh and Glasgow in favour of London to win patronage.
Joseph inherited the title of Laird in 1918 after the death of his elder brother Robert, an MP.

Murray Matthew: Recently retired after 32 years’ PT /Guidance at Inverurie Academy (possibly a Scottish record). Enjoys walking, gardening, swimming and curling. Currently chairman of Aberdeenshire Life Education Centres – “helping children make healthy choices”.

This is an article from the June 2008 edition of Leopard Magazine. To read much more like this every month, subscribe to Leopard Magazine.