Iain Clark

Photographic artist who created a series of portraits of Scottish Writers that included Alasdair in 2007. The ‘Inspired’ series was exhibited in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. The entire collection of 33 portraits was subsequently purchased by the Mitchell Library.

What does Alasdair Gray mean to you?

Explain yourself?

Having met Alasdair albeit briefly the three words I have chosen to describe him as I found him are:

Perfectionist: He may not have been one in every way but he was certainly a perfectionist when it came to his writing and his art. I have never met anyone with such focus and attention to detail.

Irascible: He was irascible in that he was on a journey and no one was going to stop him.

Tenacious: He was tenacious in that he held to his vision throughout his life. Despite setbacks he never faltered.

Anything else about Alasdair you’d like to add?

I was keen to have Alasdair as a subject for the ‘Inspired’ series. I accosted him on Byres Road one day and asked him if he would be willing to have his portrait done.

His response was typically blunt. "I won't pose and you will have to come at night." I explained that I liked to work with natural light so he said "Well you will have to come early in the morning". So it was arranged for 8am on Saturday the 17th of March.

I arrived on time and knocked on the door of his flat in Marchmont Terrace. There was a shuffling then the sound of the door being unbolted. I was then confronted by Alasdair in a calico "Wee Willie Winkie" nightcap and full length sleeping gown. It was like stepping into another world. I spent a thrilling morning in his company enjoying his tales and observing him at work in awe of his laser like focus.