An oil portrait of Councillor Barney Crockett by Aberdeen-based artist Brodie Wilson has been unveiled at the city’s Art Gallery.
Councillor Crockett was Lord Provost of Aberdeen from 2017 to 2022 and in a tradition dating back to at least the late 1600s, many of the Lord Provosts of Aberdeen have had their portraits painted.
Today, surviving examples form part of the civic collection – heritage and art objects belonging to Aberdeen City Council – and are cared for by Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums.
Aberdeen born artist Brodie Wilson was commissioned by Aberdeen City Council to paint the portrait. Brodie graduated from Gray’s School of Art in 2023 and received a New Graduate Award from the Scottish Society of Artists in the same year. The provostal portrait is Brodie’s first official commission.
In keeping with tradition, the new portrait was unveiled by the current Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron, who said: “The Lord Provost of Aberdeen portraits are very much a part of the city’s history, so I was delighted to continue the tradition by unveiling the portrait of former Lord Provost, Councillor Crockett.
“Brodie is an exceptionally talented artist and his finished artwork is stunning - I’m sure this first commission of his career will stand him in good stead for the future.”
A selection of the previous Lord Provost portraits are permanently on display in the Town House, including works by important Scottish artists such as Cosmo Alexander (John Robertson of Pitmillan and Foveran, Provost of Aberdeen 1736-37), Alberto Morrocco (Lord Provost William Fraser 1977-1978) and Jennfer McRae RSA (Lord Provost Margaret Smith, 2002).
Brodie Wilson said: “Getting to know Barney during our portrait sessions, he came across very much as a people’s person, full of stories. In the portrait I’ve tried to give that sense of the viewer being about to sit down and have a chat with him.
“I was excited and flattered, right out of art school, to be commissioned to paint a portrait which is now part of Aberdeen’s civic heritage. The fact that the portrait is on display at the Art Gallery is the cherry on the cake for me. The Gallery has been an important place of inspiration for me from a very early age, when I would visit with my grandmother. She’d be very proud.”
Councillor Barney Crockett said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my sessions with Brodie. We talked a great deal about art, the genius of the Old Masters, and Rembrandt in particular, and how they continue to influence artists today.
“We looked at portraits in the collection and at the Incoroporated Trades and I’m delighted with the final result - I’ll be following Brodie’s career with interest.”
The portrait of Councillor Crockett, which is part of the civic collection, is on display at Aberdeen Art Gallery for the next 6 months, as part of a spotlight display of recent acquisitions.
* Photograph shows artist Brodie Wilson (left) with Councillor Crockett.
Aberdeen Art Gallery is open daily and admission is free.