Colin Gillespie/ Art & Activism

It has now been 71 years since they first engaged in art practice at the age of 16. They entered a local art school not out of ambition but to avoid office or factory employment. Having always enjoyed drawing, they often attempted to capture the landscape of their hometown, which was surrounded by hills that carried a strong presence—sometimes dark and threatening, at other times gentle and welcoming, bathed in sunlight.

The local museum and art gallery were filled with paintings, primarily landscapes, created by both local artists and those of national repute. This early exposure shaped their impression that landscape painting was a dominant influence in the art world.

They spent the next four years developing basic artistic skills while maintaining a keen interest in landscape. Eventually, they applied to the Royal College of Art in London, were accepted, and stepped into a new experience—urban living. They were immediately drawn to the hustle and bustle, the noise and scent of congested traffic, and the constant movement of the crowd.