Prestigious Edinburgh retrospective for 92-year-old West Berkshire artist

“At the ripe age of 92, Upper Basildon artist Nick Schlee.has been given a retrospective exhibition by Edinburgh gallery Harvey & Woodd – a landmark venue on the city’s arts scene.

Early and Late, which spans from the 1950s to present day, opens today (September 5).

“When Harvey & Woodd sent me a list of about 30 pictures they wanted for a retrospective exhibition I thought I was dead,” said Nick, who was born in 1931.

“They chose from the digital catalogue of all the oil paintings I have ever done that were not in private or public collections.

“I was astounded by the variety of subject matter and styles in their selection.”

Still painting, Nick is a prolific artist and shows no signs of slowing down. His energy is reflected in his vibrant pastel sketches made at speed in the landscape and worked with vigorous brushstrokes into large scale oil paintings back in his village studio. He even produced a new body of work based on ‘dazzling water’ after a disastrous fire completely destroyed his Upper Basildon studio and home in 2021 and he had to move to a riverside flat until the house was rebuilt.

He says that the most interesting of his works “has always been the one on the easel I have at the moment”.

The show runs at the Dundas Street gallery until September 16, open 10am-5pm daily and by appointment at other times, including evenings.

Visit https://www.harveyandwoodd.com where you can view all the works.