Dale Bissland - Full Interview

Dale Bissland is an artist whose work displays technical accuracy, alongside emotion and sensitivity. This is a rare find and made all the more impressive as Dale is self taught. 

After studying the Old Masters and researching their techniques, he has learnt how to paint in a manner which displays an advanced skill set using traditional methods to create a contemporary form of realism. 

Dale paints places he knows; Glasgow tenements, familiar landscapes, and he also includes a figurative element of people he is close to.  No matter what the subject of his choice, all of his work displays equal amounts of depth.  He is led intuitively and paints with no limits. 

Dale is primarily attracted to light, mood and atmosphere, rather than any obvious narrative.  He aims to evoke a certain mood or emotion in the “With a particular fondness for the realism and naturalism art movements of the 19th century, it’s easy to see how self-taught Scottish artist Dale Bissland has been inspired by and allowed the stylisation of these movements to seep into his work. 

Whilst it’s undoubtful that the technical accuracy of his painting has been born from a foundation of traditional method and careful study/practice of these techniques, it is the atmospheric and evocation of his artworks which really sings to his praise and rarity as an artist.

Perhaps it is Dale Bissland’s lack of formal training which allows him to paint with such freedom and affecting discernment or perhaps it is his choice of subjects, which are invariably places of familiarity and fondness. Regardless of the how, Dale Bissland successfully and continually conveys a sensitivity and intelligence which arouses the viewer to emotionally connect with the landscapes he paints through the depiction of light and stillness. Astutely capturing the beauty of his surroundings Dale Bissland is to be applauded for his unique and breathtaking view on contemporary realism.”

Dale Bissland has become a respected and recognised Scottish contemporary painter. His paintings capture the atmosphere and light like none of his contemporaries with his unique realist style. His work is highly sought after worldwide and appeals to not only the experienced art collector but also resonates with a younger generation.