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COLLECTOR’S CORNER Norman Watson looks at one of Dundee’s most celebrated artists . . .

View from the window of Inishail. Picture: Ian Lindsay

Self Portrait 1980, oil on canvas.

ALBERTO MORROCCO was in Dundee, until his death in arguably Dundee’s greatest 1998. Practically untouched painter of the 20th century. since he last painted, his He is known mostly for studio remained filled with Awe-some view his sunlit Mediterranean unfinished works, artistic beach scenes, still lifes bright aids and props, as well as with the colours of melons complete paintings, easels, and lemons and simple but brushes and tools. Many A relaxing stay in a secluded hotel was the forceful portraiture. items from around Binrock Now, on the instructions House can be clearly seen of his family, auctioneers within his most famous work. perfect weekend treat for Caroline Lindsay Christie’s have been Highlights range from entrusted to sell off the several self-portraits, through contents of the artist’s home to personal works of his wife, and her husband . . . and studio at Binrock House, family and home, as well on the city’s Perth Road. as numerous still lifes and The auction will be held landscape works. T THE RISK of sounding in on July 11, with Leading the sale is his oil like a cheesy ad, who would a highlights exhibition at the Bathers Fondachello, painted have thought that just a two- Mansfield Traquair centre in in 1967 (estimate £50,000- hour drive away from Dundee on June 20-21. £70,000), with Binrock in could be found total peace Led by an exceptional the Snow, oil, (£15,000- andA tranquillity, away from the hustle and selection of Morrocco’s work, £25,000) and Vera with a bustle and petty worries of everyday life? the auction will also comprise Fan, oil, which he painted in And yet this perfectly sums up our furniture and ephemera from 1971 (£15,000-£25,000). overnight stay at Ardanaiseig Hotel near the artist’s private studios. But many paintings are in . The home page of The collection of 180 estimated under £5,000, this small luxury hotel describes it in lots, is expected to realise such as Clown with Pigeon glowingly poetic terms: ‘In a quiet place of in excess of £740,000 and and Maracca, executed in undisturbed tranquillity and almost surreal is offered for sale by Leon, 1996 (£4,000-£6,000). natural beauty, where the slopes of Ben Laurie and Annalisa – the I show Melon Seller, oil on Cruachan fall into the clear waters of Loch artist’s sons and daughter. paper, laid on card (£6,000- Awe, lies a deeply romantic and luxurious Alberto Morrocco painted £8,000), an example of old country house’ – and yet every word is constantly and collated an the imagery he loved to true. We arrived just as the sun was starting The imposing facade of Ardanaiseig Hotel, near Taynuilt. Picture: Ian Lindsay incredible oeuvre of work incorporate in his work, and to set over Loch Awe (’s longest spanning his beginnings Self Portrait 1980, oil on freshwater loch), and the only sound to be who led us through a warren of corridors us. While we sat in the fireside bar and at Gray’s School of Art in canvas (£5,000-£8,000). heard was the birds. and winding staircases to ‘Inishail,’ perused the taster menu, we were brought Aberdeen as a 14-year-old The world record for a And it really is in the middle of nowhere, our room for the night – a lovely space delicious battered lobster tails, with a prodigy in 1932, through work by Alberto Morrocco far from the madding crowd. After furnished with French-style furniture garlic dip, to munch on. 30 years as an inspirational remains the £98,400 taken Taynuilt, you take a single track road to the including a huge armoire, a chaise longue Once in the charming dining room, teacher and head of the by Sotheby’s at Gleneagles hamlet of Kilchrenan and then bump along and two armchairs positioned to enjoy the which also looks out over the loch, the School of Painting at Duncan in 2006 for Grande Natura for another four miles until you’re finally breathtaking view over the loch. eating started in earnest: wild leek soup of Jordanstone College of Art Morta Napolitana. rewarded by the view of Ardanaiseig. The ensuite with bath and shower was with smoked bacon, swiftly followed by The house was originally built in spotlessly clean. We’d been warned that a mini blue cheese and apple cheesecake, Scottish baronial style for Colonel the water would run brown (but was and hand-dived scallops with Archibald Campbell of Clan Campbell in perfectly safe to drink) because of the white asparagus and spring white truffle 1834 and, with its turrets, crenellations and peat in the ground but in fact this was followed hot on its heels. Next up was old grey stone, looks like a fairytale castle. barely noticeable. Instead of curtains, fillet of Angus beef with braised cheek, The hotel’s main clientele is couples the windows had the original shutters – tongue, heart, potato puree and watercress. looking for a romantic break, people but who would want to shut out such a We were then offered a tiny pistachio yearning to escape busy lives for a bit, fantastic vista, whatever the time of day or smoothie before tucking into gorse flower and families using the hotel as a base to night? The only thing that defeated us was pannacotta with mango sorbet and wood explore nearby Oban and the surrounding how to put the TV on – a mystery we never sorrel. countryside. It’s not a cheap place to stay found time to solve! But with a view like As it that wasn’t enough we then but, as soon as we arrived, we could see that, who needed TV? adjourned to the huge drawing room for that for a special break it would certainly After a quick change for dinner (the tea, coffee and tiny retro home-made be worth every penny. hotel doesn’t have a set dress code but biscuits, including custard creams and fig On arrival in the striking hallway, we requests smart casual), we went down rolls. were met by a friendly member of staff to see what culinary delights awaited And the creator of this sumptuous feast? MelonMelon SeSeller,ller oioill on ppaper,aper lalaidid oonn cacard.rd For more holiday ideas visit travel.thecourier.co.uk/ 7KH&RXULHU $GYHUWLVHU Travel 6DWXUGD\0D\

Chef de cuisine Gary Goldie, who has Reluctant to head home too soon after been at Ardanaiseig for 15 years and won this fab relaxing break, we decided to the coveted award of Scotland’s Chef of the ‘forget’ all the weekend chores awaiting us Year in 2011. back at home and take advantage of being “From the bread to the chocolates, so close to Oban. everything we make is fresh. We only use Stopping at Connel Bridge to admire TRAVEL FACTS the best produce from all over the world the spectacular Falls of Lora, which are ● Caroline Lindsay was a including herbs, vegetables and fruit from generated when the tide level in the Firth guest at Ardanaiseig Hotel, our own gardens – the seafood available of Lorn drops below the level of the Kilchrenan, by Taynuilt, locally is first rate and we take full water in , we arrived in Oban Argyll PA35 1HE. Tel advantage of that too,” he said. 40 minutes or so after leaving Ardanaiseig. 01866 988 288. Rooms Sunday dawned bright and sunny We enjoyed a wander in the sunshine start from £218 per night without a cloud in the sky and the loch and then decided to really go for it, leave including breakfast. looked even more amazing than it had the the car in Oban, and hop on the ferry to ● The Taster menu (which day before. Mull for the rest of the day – only another changes daily) is £50 per Breakfast was a similarly lush affair to 40-minute trip over the water and costing person. dinner with a great choice of local bakery just £8.80 return each (calmac.co.uk). ● The hotel also offers the on offer, along with seeds, nuts and dried Tobermory, too, was bathed in sunshine Top: kayakers harness the power of the Falls of Lora. Bottom right: perfect setting for weddings fruits in addition to a nice selection of as we had lunch al fresco and we felt very a seagull’s eye view of Tobermory’s famous main street. Bottom right: and has just been awarded cereals and juices. smug that evening as we drove home passing a lighthouse on the ferry from Oban. Pictures: Ian Lindsay Romantic Hotel of the Year Any good intentions to have a simple back to Fife through rapidly deteriorating and Intimate Wedding of breakfast were scuppered when we spotted conditions (including sleet and hail) that the Year at the Scottish other guests’ cooked Scottish brekkies and we had been so lucky to have such glorious Hotel Awards 2012. we were quick to follow suit – and it was as weather for our break. ● Hotel website: delicious as it looked. The good things about Ardanaiseig? ardanaiseig.com After breakfast we burned off a tiny None! The great things about it? Where ● Ferries from Oban to proportion of the calories we’d scoffed to begin? The friendly service, the idyllic Craignure: calmac.co.uk since arriving by strolling round the setting, the lovely rooms, the fantastic food ● Official tourist pretty lochside grounds at Ardanaiseig – . . . and that’s just for starters. information for Oban, the rhododendrons were at their peak, Throw in the charms of the Highlands Mull and Lorn: and there’s a secret walled garden to enjoy and Islands so close at hand, and you’ve visitscottishheartlands. too. got the ideal weekend getaway! com

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