John Campbell

I discovered Alasdair Gray and his wonderful artworks many years ago. Who can tell why we love a picture or why it reaches us? I had always hoped that I might someday meet Alasdair but sadly that wasn't to be. I'm not sure what I would like to have said to him but I'm hoping that wouldn't have mattered too much to him.

What does Alasdair Gray mean to you?

Explain yourself?

I left Scotland as a small boy many years ago. When I see Gray’s night time streets and navy blue skies with streaks of grey cloud, I am immediately transported back to the view from my tenement flat and the black wet streets under orange street lights.

How did you get to know Alasdair or his work?

No idea where I first saw Alasdair's pictures but I was immediately hooked. I went on to read his novels but have to be honest and say they never grabbed me in the same way that his paintings did.