Feeding Hens, Fayence

Notes

"The painting Feeding Hens, Fayence was painted in 1998 en plein air on a beautiful Provençal farm which I thankfully stumbled upon during one of my many painting trips to the south of France. On this particular trip, and up until I discovered this farm near Fayence, I had spent several frustrating days driving around the area searching for suitable subject matter - but to no avail as nothing I saw excited or moved me to paint. Then one day I suddenly came upon this ancient farmhouse or Mas as they are known in Provence. It was a a revelation.

The farmer who lived there monsieur Antoine, still hand ploughed the fields with an ox, still took his chickens and rabbits to market on the back of his moped and was still self sufficient with the produce from his vegetable/fruit garden. I spent the entire month painting everything in and around the farm including - rusting farm machinery, farm animals and of course monsieur Antoine and his wife going about their daily tasks etc.

It was just sheer joy to paint there, to observe and experience a disappearing way of life. I returned there for several years and still found the same excitement for my subject but sadly the last time I returned the farmer had died a few months earlier. At his funeral the family apparently laid on top of his coffin an image of Monsieur Antoine from a catalogue I had given him a few years earlier - I was very touched by the gesture. A way of life had suddenly gone forever and I have never returned." - Glen Scouller, October 2025.

Glen Scouller is a contemporary Scottish artist based in Ayrshire. Born in Glasgow, he honed his skills at the Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, from 1968 to 1973. Scouller is celebrated for his vibrant landscapes and still lifes, which are characterised by their brilliant colours and dappled light. His artistic process often involves painting en plein air, which he then uses to create larger artworks in his studio. Scouller is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Royal Scottish Painting Award, the Lauder Award, and the Hutcheson Prize. He was also elected as a member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours in 1997. His work can be found in public and corporate collections globally, including those of De Beers and the First National Bank of South Africa.

Thanks to Glen Scouller for assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.