This summer, The Maltings presents Joan Eardley: The Sea at Catterline, an exhibition exploring the dramatic seascapes created by one of the most distinctive British artists of the twentieth century.

Joan Eardley (1921–1963) is widely recognised for her portraits of street children in Glasgow, but alongside these works she developed an extraordinary body of landscape painting inspired by the fishing village of Catterline on Scotland’s north-east coast. Eardley first visited the village in 1951 and was captivated by its rugged coastline and the ever-changing North Sea, returning regularly before eventually making it her home.

Working outdoors in challenging conditions, often on the cliff edge overlooking the sea, Eardley created expressive, richly textured paintings that capture the energy, movement and atmosphere of the landscape. Using materials such as thick paint, sand and grasses, she built surfaces that evoke the physical force of wind and waves.

Focusing on works made between 1958 and 1963, when Eardley was at the height of her creative powers, the exhibition brings together loans from the Royal Scottish Academy, The Fleming Collection, Aberdeen Art Gallery and private collections.

The exhibition also includes work by artists who were part of Eardley’s creative community including Lil Neilson and Margot Sandeman.

Joan Eardley: The Sea at Catterline has been curated in partnership with The Fleming Collection and is part of RSA200: Celebrating Together.

In 2026 the Royal Scottish Academy celebrates its 200th anniversary with RSA200: Celebrating Together. This partnership project will bring hundreds of artists, partners, galleries and institutions together for an extraordinary year of exhibitions, events and performances.