Fraser Shaw was born in Greenock, attending Greenock Academy then Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee. Although qualifying in 1982 with a BA Honours Degree in Graphic Design and Photography, he was greatly influenced by the work of both Alberto Morrocco and James Morrison, who were resident tutors at that time.
He worked until 1988 as a Graphic Artist for a number of art agencies in Glasgow and London, resulting in him pursuing a free lance career as an illustrator - producing book covers, magazine artwork and promotional material for clients such as Methuen, Octopus, Hodder & Stoughton and the Sunday Times. He worked in this field for several years, then in 1992 changed direction and entered secondary education, where he currently holds the position of Principal Teacher of Art & Design at Dunoon Grammar, on the Cowal Peninsula, Argyll.

Fraser has now developed a very bold and highly textural style with a vibrant colour palette, successfully reflecting the vagaries of the Scottish light. As a result of his travelling, he is interested in the influence of the constantly changing weather, which can transform the mood in a moment. Colour and balance often dominates his paintings where he uses bold brushwork to express the form and movement, especially in his landscapes.

Artist’s Statement - “My inspiration is not just of the physical landscape, light and atmosphere of each day, but from work of contemporaries such as Ian Elliot, John Piper, James Orr and the South African artist Derrick Van Rensberg. I feel my work shares a common ground in use of rich colour, surface texture and bold, impasto technique – a philosophy and approach which I not only admire but attempt to emulate”
Fraser currently lives in Helensburgh, Argyll with his wife Angelle and two children, Jessica and Lewis.