Erni Upton

Born in Ayrshire in 1936, Upton spent most of his youth with the fisher-folk, and their boats, of West Scotland. He studied at Glasgow School of Art under the guidance of tutors Donaldson, Mathison and Robertson. Upton's work reflects their influences and those of other Scottish colourists who, like him, spent much of their time in the wonderful light and colours of the West Coast.Upton spent many years in banking after he graduated from art school, but returned to the creative world when he established an interior design company in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. He continued to work in oil paint but manly for corporate and private clients. It was not until 1999 when Upton chose to paint full-time.

His work is shown in many galleries across England, Scotland and abroad. Most recently he was invited to have a solo exhibition at the British Embassy in Instanbul, through a commission, and had a subsequent solo show at one of the premier galleries in the city.

In 2004 Upton was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts in London.