William Littlejohn's (1929-2006) Pink Fish, Yellow Moon invites the viewer to linger and explore the peculiar arrangement of ordinary elements that we find in still life paintings, such as apples, flowers, a magnifying glass juxtaposed with surreal pink fish and a yellow moon. The still life shapes are beautifully placed in an abstract gentle grid, indicating orderly geometry which is enhanced by the two triangles from left and right.
Littlejohn was educated at Arbroath High School and then studied art from 1946-50 at Gray's School of Art, in Aberdeen. He was elected a member of the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) in 1973. He taught widely in the Angus area (Arbroath High School until 1966) then joined the staff at Gray's as a lecturer and head of painting. In 1972, he was appointed their head of fine art, retiring in 1991.
William Littlejohn Bequest, gifted by The Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture, 2016.