The latest exhibition in the Tower Foyer Gallery celebrates the life and work of painter and art teacher Peter Flynn and marks two significant milestones – the artist’s recent 70th birthday and 50 years since he began his formal study of painting at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee. The exhibition features recent work on loan from the artist as well as some of Peter’s student works from the Art College Collection.
Peter gained his Diploma in Art from the College in 1979, completing a postgraduate year in 1980. He went on to train as a teacher and during this time was awarded the prestigious Elizabeth Greenshield Award, allowing him to travel and work in various countries. On his return he was invited to take part in the pioneering Blackness Public Art Programme, creating the Lochee Road Fence and the Polepark Arch.
Peter continued to exhibit his work while also enjoying a long career in teaching, first at schools in Angus then returning to Dundee to work at Harris Academy then St John’s RC High School, where he became Principal Teacher of Art. Since retiring he has been painting and exhibiting full time.
Peter’s work is deeply rooted in both place and memory, shaped by his surroundings at home and his extensive travels abroad. Much of his recent output reflects this duality: vibrant works created in situ during extended visits overseas, paired with more contemplative studio pieces developed back home. The exhibition’s title, Crossings, reflects this physical and emotional journey – an exploration of what we carry with us through landscapes, cultures and time.
Narrative lies at the heart of his practice. His paintings are rich with story – some emerging from direct encounters, others from the mood and texture of place. Crossings is ultimately about transitions – between places, generations, and states of being. Whether shaped by the simplicity of everyday life or the richness of cultural traditions, Peter Flynn’s work invites viewers to reflect on the ways we carry memory and meaning across borders, and how art becomes a vessel for that journey.
The exhibition is on show until 27 June and is open Mon-Fri 9.30am-7pm (last entry 5pm).
