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David Michie RSA, Telegraph Pole with a Crow (detail), 1964, oil on canvas.
David Alan Redpath Michie OBE RSA (1928 – 2015) was born at Saint-Raphaël, France. His father, James Michie, was an architect and painter and his mother was the celebrated artist Anne Redpath OBE RSA.
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David Michie in his studio, circa 1965. Image courtesy RSA Collections.
David Michie’s early years were spent living in St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat where his father was private architect to American tycoon Charles Thompson. Later, the vibrant colour schemes of the Côte d’Azur would infuse his work. In 1934, Michie returned to Scotland with his family and settled in the Scottish Borders. In 1946, he enrolled at the Edinburgh College of Art but his time there was interrupted in 1947 with the introduction of National Service. He completed his service in the Signal Corps, qualifying as an instructor with the Royal Artillery Signals in 1949 and returned to Edinburgh College of Art where he was taught by William Gillies RSA.
In 1953 Michie received a travelling scholarship to Italy, accompanied by his friend, the painter John Houston. They toured the Renaissance sites of Tuscany, and stayed in the hilltop towns of Anticoli Corrado and Orvieto in Umbria. Houston and his wife Elizabeth Blackadder RSA were to remain life-long friends.
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David Michie RSA, Garden with Rose Trellis (detail), oil on canvas.
Well-known for always carrying a sketchbook with him, colour was central to Michie's painting.
Working in both oils and watercolour, his subjects ranged from the natural world, garden compositions and everyday life. Michie taught widely, both in Scotland and abroad. He was a visiting professor at the Academy of Fine Art, Belgrade, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. He returned to Edinburgh College of Art to teach painting during the 1960s and 1970s where he would become Head of the School of Drawing and Painting. Michie was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1964 and Royal Scottish Academician in 1972. He was appointed OBE in 1997.
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The studio of David Michie. Image courtesy RSA Collections.
In 2016, David Michie's family generously gifted 22 paintings, over 100 sketchbooks and many studio objects and photographs to the Collection of the Royal Scottish Academy.
The David Michie Gift, as it is known, has enabled the RSA to undertake extensive research to document and archive the life of this extraordinary artist. The RSA continues to enjoy a close relationship with the Michie family and we are pleased to offer this selection of works directly from the artist's estate.
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Available Works
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David Michie RSATelegraph Pole with a Crow, 1964Oil on canvas35.5 x 45.5 cmSold
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David Michie RSAMartins Flying at Dusk I, circa 1994Oil on canvas112 x 127 cm£ 7,000.00
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David Michie RSAPelican, Santa BarbaraOil on canvas35.5 x 45.5 cmSold
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David Michie RSAGarden with Rose TrellisOil on canvas91.5 x 127 cm£ 6,500.00
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David Michie RSASunlight in the Park, 1960sOil on canvas45.5 x 71 cm£ 4,000.00
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David Michie RSAYellow Garden, circa 1965Etching63 x 73 cmEdition of 50£ 1,400.00
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David Michie RSAThe River Bank, 2009Screenprint51 x 68 cmEdition of 50£ 1,400.00
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David Michie RSAMy Heart is a GardenOil on canvas127 x 92 cm£ 6,500.00
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David Michie RSAThe Tango Dancers and Watchers, 2011Oil on board20.5 x 20.5 cmSold
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David Michie RSAThe Dancers, 2011Oil on board20.5 x 20.5 cm£ 850.00
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David Michie RSABending over Backwards, 2011Oil on board20.5 x 20.5 cmSold
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David Michie RSATango DancersOil on board20.5 x 20.5 cm£ 850.00
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David Michie RSASpringtime Landscape, Ibiza, circa 1984Oil on canvas91.4 x 127 cm£ 6,500.00
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David Michie RSASetting the Pigeons Free, Belgrade II, 1979Oil on canvas86.5 x 86.5 cm£ 5,000.00
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David Michie RSAA Streetscape in BelgradeAcquatint and drypoint
Signed and numbered 7/2025.5 x 30.5 cmEdition of 20£ 400.00 -
David Michie RSARoad CrossingEtching, aquatint and drypoint
Signed and numbered 2/2025.5 x 30.5 cmEdition of 20£ 400.00
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David Michie RSA
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