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Welcome to my website!

Hi -  I'm William Mather and I live and paint in the Scottish Highlands, working mainly in oils.

For years I have worked outdoors in watercolours but recently oils have taken over….again mostly painting 'plein air' in all weathers - see below and also in page: "WM in Action & kit". The images reflect some of the places and kit both for landscapes and portraits. Recently the 2020 'self-isolation' caused by Covid 19 has resulted in a lot more studio-work.

The studio is close to our home in Fortrose, near Inverness and is  base-camp for working in acrylics,  pastel, charcoal, pen-and-ink as well as oils.

This website reflects the diversity that I enjoy from Landscapes and Portraits, to ‘Portrait Sketches’, Africa images, and Abstracts. 

I have always loved painting even though I have had careers in journalism and then in the Anglican Church - as a Vicar! There’s not been much time for anything else but I have exhibited when possible. Retirement in 2010 has given more time for the painting.

Since 2005 about 160 art-works have been sold or given away of which 89 have been portraits. There have also been 1,180 portrait sketches - sold for a recommended donation of between £5 and £10. I love doing them and they are very popular.

My wife, Libby and I have three wonderful children all doing interesting things in different areas of interest.

Just click on one of the 'galleries' above and enjoy a good browse!

William,  July 2020

Mobile car studio
Mobile car studio
When the wind blows too hard then a brolly is impossible as here in Feb 2020. This was on Shore Road near Beauly and even sheltering behind the car the easel blew over twice! Two further visits were needed in calmer weather to try and get the picture into shape. See final result in 'Landscapes' page.
Portrait-Sketching of Masai in Kenya
Portrait-Sketching of Masai in Kenya
A wonderful visit to a Masai village, Kenya with a chance to do charcoal portrait-sketches. V hot, v tiring but v worth it! See 'Portrait Sketches' page. Thanks to Crystal Wells - now Mather - for the photo.
Portrait of Crystal using FaceTime
Portrait of Crystal using FaceTime
A 'virtual' sitting of Crystal 5,000 miles away in Kenya for an 'actual' portrait in the UK - on-screen for four hours then lots of studio-work! Final portrait of Crystal is on the 'Portrait' page.
A bit chilly!
A bit chilly!
Plein-air work is a massive challenge and sometimes a bit chilly, as here above Alness, Highlands. Thanks to fellow fanatic, Jonathan Shearer for the photo! See 'Landscapes' page for several snow-efforts.
Portrait Sketch of Mark MacDonell
Portrait Sketch of Mark MacDonell
Good fun in the studio doing quick Portrait-Sketches of Mark (and also his sister Vivienne - not in picture) Pastel 400X300. 2020. Photo: Hannah Mather
In The Studio
In The Studio
OK - so there's no paint on the brush or palette, so this is a bit fake! But thanks to our daughter Hannah - being handy with a camera - this gives an idea of where a lot of the work goes on - and that's not fake at all!
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