British Council British Council Visual Arts

Bellany was born in Port Seton in Scotland and studied at Edinburgh College of Art and later at the Royal College of Art in London.

He grew up in a small fishing village where his father was a fisherman and many of the symbolic images he uses come from the sea: boats, birds, fish and other sea creatures.

Animals also appear in this symbolic language, sometimes with traditional meaning (Artist as Monkey), sometimes personal (Self portrait as Dog). Fate is represented by a clock or playing cards.

Throughout his career Bellany has portrayed, directly or obliquely, events in his own life. Portraits, especially self portraits, are central to his work, and include a series done in 1988 following his liver transplant operation. He was made a Royal Academician in 1991.

www.bellany.com

www.royalacademy.org.uk