Stuart Herd

Stuart Herd (1971–2023) was a gifted Scottish landscape and rugby artist whose work elegantly captured the rugged beauty and emotional depth of Scotland’s coastal scenes. 

Born in Scotland but raised in England, he briefly attended Amersham College of Art before embarking on a career in photography across the South East of England. However, his heart remained with Scotland, where he returned frequently to photograph its landscapes, nurturing an eye for composition that would deeply inform his later art.

In the mid-1990s, Herd settled back in Scotland and began producing intricate pen-and-ink cityscapes and stadium drawings, marking the beginning of his transition from photographer to visual artist. After a period in Jamaica working as an art auctioneer and picture framer, he returned in 2002 committed to painting full-time.

Herd opened The Art Studio in Tarbert in 2007 to exhibit his work and meet collectors directly, planting the seeds for wider recognition. 

A significant turn in his life came with a serious eye injury in 2011 that resulted in the loss of sight in one eye. Undeterred, he persevered, establishing The Harbour Gallery in Tarbert in 2012, followed by branches in Ullapool (2015) and Inveraray (2021), all serving as exhibition spaces for his own work and that of local artists.

Herd’s art is defined by dramatic weather, atmospheric light, serene seascapes, dynamic skies, and a palpable sense of mood. He was also an ardent rugby fan and his stadium drawings and sports commissions added another layer to his legacy. He often donated works to charity auctions and was praised by Scottish Rugby as a “generous supporter.”

Tragically, Stuart Herd passed away unexpectedly in October 2023 while in France during the Rugby World Cup. His death was widely mourned across his community and the art world.