Angus McPhee

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For the American journalist, see John Angus McPhee.

Angus McPhee (1916 – 1997) was a Scottish outsider artist, who made his art while being admitted in the Craig Dunain Psychiatric Hospital near Inverness. He was born into a crofting family in Iochdar, South Uist (Outer Hebrides). As a child on the croft, he learnt how to make ropes and netting from the abundant grass on the island.

[edit] Biography

While serving with the Lovat Scouts, garrisoned the Faroe Islands during World War II, McPhee became increasingly mentally ill. He returned home on the croft, but he became mute, sullen and self-absorbed. His family noticed his animals became neglected. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1946, and spent the rest of his life in Craig Dunain Hospital. There he fell completely silent and didn't speak for more than 50 years.

Being described as 'the quiet big man', he was admitted to the farm ward of the hospital, Kinmylies House. There he tended the animals and worked on the lands. He was a steady and hard worker. During his free time, McPhee wandered the lands in search for materials and created objects woven (mostly) from grass, sheep wool and beech leaves. He made garments, hats, cats, pouches and the like, which he liked to hide under the bushes. He was completely silent as to their purpose.

In 1977, he was "discovered" by Joyce Laing, an art therapist. Like Jean Dubuffet, she sought brut artists. She wrote the book Angus McPhee: Weaver of Grass for an April 2000 exhibition for the Taigh Chearsabhagh Art Trust.

In 2004, a documentary was made of his life by Nick Higgins: Hidden Gifts: The Mystery of Angus MacPhee (IMDB), which won the 2005 Britspotting award.

[edit] External links

• Am Baile: narrative
• Am Baile: work

[edit] References

• Laing, Joyce (2000). Angus McPhee: Weaver of Grass. BALTIC. ISBN 953581411. 
• The Weaver of Grass, biography, Weaver of Grass exhibition, Am Baile Gaelic village