Colin Brown

Colin Brown, born in Dundee in 1962, studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, earning an Honours Degree in Fine Art (Painting) in 1986 followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in 1987. With a career spanning nearly three decades, Colin has established a strong international profile through regular exhibitions across the UK, Europe, and the United States. His time living and painting abroad—particularly in Florence and Düsseldorf—has influenced his distinctive artistic voice. Now based in Stonehaven on Scotland’s northeast coast, he continues to produce compelling and thoughtful work.

Brown’s paintings are known for their dynamic interplay between control and spontaneity. Drawing on seemingly random fragments and visual elements, he creates tightly composed works that resist fixed meaning, encouraging viewers to engage with shifting interpretations. His process-driven approach allows each painting to evolve organically, rather than adhering to a set concept. This method has earned him critical acclaim and recognition, including a major grant from the prestigious Pollock-Krasner Foundation in New York in 1996.

His work is held in numerous private collections across the globe—from Japan to the United States—and in public collections including Highland Regional Council (Scotland), Norddeutsche Landesbank (Germany), and Grampian Arts Trust. Brown’s international reach and unique visual language mark him as a compelling figure in contemporary painting.