-
James Morrison painting, credit: Estate of James Morrison
-
James Morrison in the arctic, credit Estate of James Morrison
-
James Morrison at home, © Eye of the Storm, Montrose Pictures
-
James Morrison's Montrose home & Studio, © Eye of the Storm, Montrose Pictures
Screening
Eye of the Storm
5 Mar 2021 – 6 Mar 2021
Regular hours
- Fri, 05 Mar
- 07:00 – 23:30
- Sat, 06 Mar
- 00:00 – 23:30
Timezone: Europe/London
Cost of entry
Advanced tickets £7.99
- Language: English
- Join the event
Following its World Premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival, the RSA is pleased be a screening partner for the film Eye of the Storm, a compelling documentary about the late James Morrison RSA (1932-2020).
About
James Morrison RSA is widely recognized as one of Britain’s finest landscape artists. His work hangs in the homes of JK Rowling and the Royal Family, as well as in museums, and private collections around the world. But in the twilight of his life he faces his greatest challenge: his eyesight is fading fast, and he has one more major painting to complete.
From his studio just outside Montrose, Morrison can hear the crashing North Sea. On the wall is a drawing of Mickey Mouse that he completed when he was 8 years old, at the outset of World War II. “My sight has quite badly deteriorated,” Morrison admits. “And the very thought of coming in here and not being able to pick up a brush and do something with it really terrifies me. It really appals me.” Nevertheless, he has agreed to let filmmaker Anthony Baxter follow him as he picks up the brushes again at the age of 85 after being side-lined by a series of operations. And while doing so he reflects on an extraordinary artistic life.
Eye of the Storm is a fascinating exploration of what it means to be a landscape painter. It is also the poignant and universal story of a creative mind dealing with his own mortality, and the physical frailties that catch up with all of us. The film movingly intertwines Morrison’s struggle with old age, with his lively views as a much younger painter, captured in remarkable archive footage, filmed more than 50 years ago.
___
Director Anthony Baxter is a former BBC journalist and award- winning director. Baxter’s iconic You’ve Been Trumped (2011), in which a small Scottish community battles against the brash New York developer Donald Trump who would later become the American President, has received a dozen international awards. It was this film which lead James Morrison RSA to contact Baxter regarding Eye of the Storm. After meeting for a coffee, Baxter asked whether he could follow him on camera should he consider painting again and he agreed.
The film will be released on 5 March and will be available to view for 48 hours.
Advanced tickets available HERE
