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Ralph Cowan was born in Glasgow in 1904 and died ten days short of his 101st birthday in 2004.
He followed his father and grandfather into the making of decorative glass and set up his own decorative glass studio at the age of 21. Unfortunately, his business never recovered from the Second World War. Afterwards he became an art teacher at Allan Glen’s school where he taught for 23 years however he continued his design work during this time. In the early 1960s his focus turned to painting and a long and very productive artistic period began. He held his last exhibition at the age of 96.
The breadth of his work was extensive. In the earlier period he concentrated on stained glass for church windows and etched and decorative panels for ocean liners and commercial buildings. Later, abstract and landscape paintings were exhibited in Mayfair, London and Scotland. He also produced wood engravings, illustrations, watercolours and textile designs.
A small gallery in the City of Glasgow College on the previous site of Allan Glen’s school is named in his honour.
Artist 1904 to 2004