Born in 1970, Shaun MacDonald aka Shaunie Boy, studied Fine Art: Drawing and Painting at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen. He lives and works in his hometown of Nairn on the North East Coast of Scotland. MacDonald has exhibited his work consistently since 1989, mainly within Scotland but occasionally in London and in Europe. Shortly after completing his MA in Fine Art he took up a part-time teaching post at what would later become known as “Scotland’s 5th Art School” Moray School of Art at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Teaching across all four years of the BA Hons Fine Art programme he latterly became the Curriculum Team Leader, involved in all aspects of pedagogy, module leadership and curriculum development.

Since stepping down from his teaching role after some 23 years he has focussed on his fine art practice. His award winning work has seen him exhibit within all of Scotlands major exhibiting societies, a number of commercial galleries and also with various artist collectives.

Shaun’s practice is self-proclaimed as “contemporary proto-realism” it directly references and incorporates popular culture, toys and play. It often employs methods of “adulteration” a term coined from the writings of David Hopkins in his publications “Childish Things” and “Dark Toys” that examine surrealism and the culture of childhood. He works in a variety of media and is known for his meticulous approach to rendering form and surface.

Most recently he has incorporated an image+text generative method that resulted in a small body of work exhibited under the title of “Wonderlands & Otherlands” in 2025.
Informed by the late 60’s folk rock of Donovan, TM and the valspar household paint range, the show included generated lyrics to a new song for the 1968 album ‘The Hurdy Gurdy Man“ entitled “The Painters Spell” which were credited to Shaunovan.
An alternative album cover artwork was also generated and this took the form of a large scale mural and environment for his small scale acrylic on paper paintings, all of which were generated from existing song titles and images of selected toys from his personal collection. These along with a Max Beckmann etching encountered whilst on a family trip to London and whose title he interpreted wrongly “Fastnacht” formed the heart beat of his most recent show.

Currently seeking gallery representation.
Catalogue of all available works upon request.

Education/training:

2000-2001: MA Fine Art, Grays School of Art, Aberdeen, Scotland.
1995-1999: BA Hons Fine Art, (Drawing and Painting), Aberdeen, Scotland.
1990-1992: HND Design & Typography for Print, Edinburgh College, Edinburgh, Scotland.
1987-1989: OND Art & Design, Aberdeen College of Commerce, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Selected solo exhibitions:

2025, Wonderlands & Otherlands, Middle Room WASPS, Nairn, Scotland.
2020, EvaPlay, Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland.
2019, Further Adulteration, Moray School of Art, UHI, Elgin, Scotland.
2017, Adulteration, Town House, Nairn Scotland.
2013, Pyschogenic Fugue, Moray School of Art, UHI, Elgin, Scotland.
2000, The Lemon Tree, Invitational, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Selected group exhibitions:

2023, Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh Scotland.
2023, Royal Scottish Academy Open, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland.
2019, Links, Nairn Book & Arts Festival.
2019, The Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh Scotland.
2018, Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland.
2018, Royal Scottish Academy, Summer Open, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland.
2018, Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow.
2016, Adulteration, Nairn Book & Arts Festival.
2016, Royal Glasgow Institute, Mitchel Library, Glasgow, Scotland.
2015, Discerning Eye (selected) Mall Galleries, London, England.
2015, Royal Glasgow Institute, Mitchel Library, Glasgow, Scotland.
2013, Royal Glasgow Institute, Mitchel Library, Glasgow, Scotland.
2013, Society of Scottish Artists, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland.
2012, Haus Berlin, (Perennial Collective) Glogauair, Berlin, Germany.
2011, Royal Glasgow Institute Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland.
2011, Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh Scotland.

Selected collections:

Shaunie Boy (Aka: Shaun MacDonald) is collected by various private collectors in the UK, Ireland, and Canada.
Grays School of Art, Aberdeen, Scotland. Miles Hardy, Robin Hardie, Dr Richard F Burton, The Worst Art Flippington, Scott Byrne, Dr Gina Wall, Walter Scott & Partners Limited.Dr Matthias Wienroth,

Awards:

2023, Highland Society of London Award, “Whacky Snowballs” Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland.
2006, The Big Draw (Ward-draW & Drawing On-line), National Gallery, London.
2003, RGI, Exhibition Award; Winner, Royal Glasgow Institute, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Scotland.
2001, The Anne Redpath Award for Painting, Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland.
1989, Travelling Exhibition Award, Highland & Islands Open, Eden Court, Inverness, Scotland.

Residencies:

2007, Artist in residence, Elgin High School, Elgin, Scotland.

Professional contributions:

2002-2025: PT Lecturer and latterly Curriculum Team Leader, BA Hons Fine Art, Moray School of Art, University of The Highlands & Islands, Elgin, Scotland. Teaching across all levels, leading “Degree Show”, Curriculum Development and all aspects of learning and teaching, assessment professional practice and cultural trips.
2020, Artist Representative on Inverness Creative Academy Project Steering Group.
2002 - Present, Studio Rep WASPS Links Studios Nairn.