ONE of Scotland’s most successful artists returned to his beloved Clydebank this week with a gift that holds a special meaning for him. John Lowrie Morrison, who paints as Jolomo, returned to Clydebank Town Hall and Gallery this week to launch his second ever exhibition in the town - 'Islands on the Edge of the world’.

The renowned landscape artist, who spent several years working in Clydebank, makes a return to the gallery where his lifetime’s work was displayed in 2013 in a retrospective exhibition. The show was an international success attracting more than 20,000 visitors and generating hundreds of thousands of pounds for the local economy.

This time returning with 36 paintings in his latest exhibition, John also brought with him a painting of one of his favourite motifs as a gift to the people of Clydebank.

To coincide with the opening of the exhibition, the painting was gifted to West Dunbartonshire Council’s Fine Arts and Museums collection. This is in recognition of the affection John holds for Clydebank, where he worked as an art adviser to the old Strathclyde Regional Council.

The spectacular painting, 'Morninglight, Ardionra Croft, Isle of Iona’, was presented to Provost Douglas McAllister at a reception on Thursday, August 20 and will now go on permanent display in Clydebank Town Hall Museum and Gallery.

John, who was based at the former St Andrew’s High School whilst working in Clydebank, said: “I loved the relationship I had with the team at Clydebank when we did the retrospective there in 2013. The Garden Gallery is such a beautiful space with wonderful light coming in from the east. I’m delighted to be returning for a selling exhibition, and to gift this painting to the West Dunbartonshire Council in recognition of the happy memories I have of working in the area.

“This particular painting, called Morninglight, Ardionra Croft, is up from Iona Abbey and it is a favourite motif of mine. I have been painting it for 40 years now. Because it is a favourite motif of mine for painting, I thought I would gift the people of West Dunbartonshire something that is special to me.” John, who lives in Argyll, is one of the country’s most popular artists, with celebrities such as Madonna, Sting and Rick Stein all owning his paintings.

Provost Douglas McAllister said: “ John is one of the most prominent artists in Scotland’s history and to be gifted one of his works, which will be on display for the people of West Dunbartonshire to see, is an incredible gesture. We are delighted he has chosen to return to the Garden Gallery in Clydebank Town Hall for his latest exhibition and I’m sure people will travel from far and wide to see his latest works.” 'Islands on the Edge of the World’ is an exhibition of paintings of Scottish islands, including Harris, Barra, Gigha and Iona. Over one third feature the Isle of Harris.

John was born in Maryhill in 1948 and studied at Glasgow School of Art. He was an art teacher for 25 years and began painting full time in 1997.