In Hell They'll Roast Thee like a Herrin'

This is one of a series of 54 paintings illustrating Robert Burns "Tam O'Shanter" poem. Talking about the poem, Alexander Goudie said "since childhood it has captured my imagination and every now and then inspired my muse. Prompted in 1995 by the approaching bicentenary of Burns' death Goudie gave "full reign to my wildest imaginings on the subject, and this collection of paintings is the result."   The series of 54 paintings took 18 months to complete and was first exhibited in 1996 during the Edinburgh Festival.  They were shown for sale in 1999 when a consortium of three benefactors, The Fraser Foundation, T.B. Hunter Charitable Trust and The Souter Foundation saved the collection from being split.  In partnership with South Ayrshire Council, the Goudie Collection was brought back to its natural home in Ayrshire to Rozelle House in Ayr, where a proportion of the collection is always on display.    Goudie was born in Paisley in 1933 and studied painting at the Glasgow School of Art where he was awarded the Newberry Medal.  Influenced by the teaching of Scottish artist David Donaldson, he carried on a portrait practice in the Glasgow tradition stretching back to Lavery.  Goudie worked on a series of projects that confirmed his reputation as one of the most accomplished Scottish painters of his generation.  For the most part, he lived and worked in Glasgow and also painted landscapes and harbour scenes in Brittany.  His work includes the decoration of the Brittany Ferries flagship “Bretagne”, launched in 1989, and a series of ceramics and ceramic sculptures inspired by Breton life.  He also created designs for the Opera “Salome” of 1992-94.  Alexander Goudie exhibited widely and has been the subject of television documentary coverage.