Highly collectable Scottish artist with a rich artistic heritage
Jack Morrocco was born in Edinburgh and following his education at Madras College, St Andrews, he started his art college at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee From 1970-1974 he studied under his uncle Alberto Morrocco. Jack Knox, David McClure and Dennis Buchan. Jack attributes the development of his painting skills to the very rigorous art education that he received at art school. He recounts the broad range of techniques that he was expected to master, including graphic design, illustration, textiles, life drawing, painting, portraiture, still life and photography. During the summer of 1973, Jack was selected to study at Hospitalfield House, Arbroath, under the renowned pop artist Peter Blake. He was awarded postgraduate in 1975, and achieved a highly commended post diploma - the highest award possible at that time.
Jack was born into a painting dynasty and everyone in his wider family had a house with a studio in it. The question was not ‘if', but when Jack would go into art. His mother Rozelle was an artist and by the age of seven he was painting in oils. Jack was later taught by his uncle, the famous Scottish Italian painter Alberto Morrocco who nurtured him in his craft. Alberto's son (Jack's cousin) Leon Morrocco is also a well known and respected artist who was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1971.
After College Jack worked for 5 years as a freelance illustrator whilst also painting and exhibiting. As a result of the volume of illustration and graphic design work that he was being asked to undertake, he set up an advertising, marketing and design consultancy in Dundee in 1980 which he ran until 1996. In 1997, Jack decided to paint full time and now works from his studios at home in Fife, Scotland and on the Cote d’Azur in the south of France.
Jack chooses to paint several distinct types of work. He says “I get bored easily, so the idea of painting only one type of subject, in one particular style, doesn’t keep me interested creatively. I need to be more flexible, and move from one discipline to the next whenever I choose.”
Education/Awards
1975 Farquhar Reid Travelling Scholarship (spent in Paris and Florence)
1970-1974 Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee
