DONALD MANSON | Knickerbocker Glory
Oil on Board
46 x 46 cms / 18 x 18 inches
Signed Manson (lower right)
Donald Manson’s Knickerbocker Glory captures the jubilance of a British seaside summer with vivid colour and painterly charm. The iconic dessert becomes a joyous focal point, set against a lively coastal backdrop of piers, parasols and sailing boats. This exuberant still life celebrates nostalgia and national identity, reminiscent of seaside painting in post-war British art.
Donald Manson’s still-life paintings are rich in visual dynamism, balancing structure with expressive energy. In his oil paintings, objects are not simply arranged but orchestrated—each element playing its role in a carefully composed symphony of colour and texture. Born and raised along the Scottish coast, Manson’s artistic identity is deeply tied to his surroundings. His early exposure to maritime landscapes and the shifting atmospheres of Scotland’s coastal regions provided a foundation for his unique approach to painting—one that prioritizes sensation over strict representation.
After formal training at the Glasgow School of Art, where he studied under influential figures such as Jack Knox, Manson refined a method that fuses structured composition with a spontaneous, expressive touch. Though he spent many years teaching art and design, his personal practice remained dedicated to exploring the dialogue between observation and memory. Exhibited widely in Scotland and the UK, Manson’s work has found its place in numerous private and corporate collections. His ability to translate the visual and emotional impact of his surroundings into rich, painterly compositions has made him a sought-after name among collectors who appreciate contemporary interpretations of classic genres.
Manson’s technique is a testament to his belief in the fundamental craft of painting. His surfaces carry a tactile immediacy—layered, scraped, and reworked in a manner that highlights the physicality of his medium. Thick impasto passages contrast with delicate, translucent glazes, creating a dynamic interplay between depth and texture. He does not simply depict objects; he allows the process of painting to remain visible, inviting the viewer to engage with both the subject and its creation.
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