Radical Perspectives: James Holloway CBE on 'Arenig, North Wales', by James Dixon Innes

By James Holloway, 09.02.2025

James Dickson Innes, 'Aernig North Wales', (1913). Tate.

In this new series of films, the Fleming Wyfold Foundation's Curator Emeritus James Knox asks academics to talk about a work from the Fleming Collections's exhibition, 'The Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives', showing at Dovecot, Edinburgh (7th February - 28th June 2025). James Holloway shares insights about 'Aernig, North Wales', by James Dickson Innes (1887-1914), on loan from Tate.  

James Holloway CBE was the director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery from 1997 until 2007. Prior to arriving in Edinburgh, he had studied History of Art at the Courtauld Institute, where he led fellow students on a march to London’s National Gallery to help acquire Titian's Diana and Actaeon for the nation. His long career with the National Galleries of Scotland began in 1972 when he joined as a research assistant, cataloguing the extensive collection of Scottish drawings. His Welsh roots calling, he left Edinburgh in 1980 for a three year stint as Assistant Keeper of the National Museum of Wales, before returning to the Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh as Deputy Keeper from 1997, and thereafter as Director, until 2012. Whilst Director, Holloway oversaw the landmark restoration and reorganisation of the Portrait Gallery as we see it today. For his services to the Arts, Holloway was awarded a CBE in 2012. He has presided as a Chairman of the Abbotsford Trust, responsible for the historic home of Sir Walter Scott in the Borders, and currently serves as a Trustee of the Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation. Welsh painter James Dixon Innes (1887–1914) studied first at Carmarthen Art School and then at the Slade. Innes made several trips abroad in order to paint, most importantly to Collioure, France. He is, however, best known for his paintings of Wales. In works of a Post-Impressionist style he developed a poetic intensity. He painted at speed, using chopped brushstrokes to render foliage, clouds or light reflections on water. His career was cut short by tuberculosis. Arenig is the name of the mountain to the north-west of Lake Bala in Wales, the shore of which can be seen in the foreground of the painting, viewed from Nant-Ddu. (Source: Tate)