The Mac Sounds Out "GSofA"

8th May - 13th June 2026

The 2014 blaze in the Mackintosh caused a metaphorical and actual wall of sound. Especially when the erection of scaffolding and the reconstruction of the school building began, with crews working to restore the Mackintosh building's, iconic, original design. Those sounds travelled the globe in many forms. Gino spent two years as a Visiting Artist at the Glasgow School of Art (2015 -2017) making those sounds visible. Concentrating on the hidden sounds emitted daily from the Mackintosh. Sounds which were both organic and inorganic. 

Over two years Gino recorded the reconstruction of The Mackintosh building by making analogue sound drawings for his artist book "45 Drawings "Sound" GSofA". His intention to capture the organic and inorganic sounds emanating from the Mackintosh Building, as it underwent reconstruction and conservation following the terrible fire in 2014. 

Gino published 45 Drawings “Sound” GSofA in 2017 which was exhibited in the exhibition “Resonance” at the Glasgow School of Art, GSA library during the summer of 2017. The sound installation was a physical representation of the organic and inorganic acoustic frequencies Gino experienced at the Macintosh during its restoration, following the devastating fire in 2014 

Using a binary approach Gino used both his audio and visual senses, to enact a human data packet transaction, which could be read as notation. Through this process Gino made drawings as signals, that can be reread, reinterpreted, and shared as a form of creative data. 

A selection of sculpture Gino also made were used as graphical musical notation for compositions performed at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Buckingham Parish Church and an exhibition and performance at the Analix Forever Gallery, Switzerland, The Vinson Building and Radcliffe Centre, The University of Buckingham, Buckingham and at The Buckingham Literary Festival, Buckingham, and Artbasel, Miami. Bridging and vocalising the gap created by the silence of the Mackintosh building. 

The drawings made for this book were further being developed to use as a musical score for orchestra. To celebrate the rebirth and reopening of GSofA planned for 2018, sadly the Macintosh was engulfed in flames for a second time in June 2018 leaving a burnt out shell. 

In his role as Festival Artist at the Buckingham Literary Festival, on the morning of 16th June 2018, Gino has just finished drawing when a journalist asked him "What do you think of the fire at Glasgow School of Art? Unaware, Gino replied "the renovation work looks absolutely brilliant". Tim the journalist replied "I meant the fire last night" Gino had no words to describe his thoughts and feelings.

Since then Gino has used the sketches, drawings and sculpture he made to create further works. Most recently a painting and musical collaboration “Hearing Sound Seeing Colour” with Christopher Redgate, Sextext for piano and wind, premiered at the Buckingham Summer Festival July 2025.

For this exhibition Gino has made two new sound drawings, and a sculptural assemblage. The assemblage “Crux” has a thin zinc base, and iron cradling burnt wood. Representing the two devastating fires suffered by the Mac. 

Throughout the exhibition Gino will also be exhibiting companion drawings, in a group exhibition at the RGI’s, Kelly Gallery “Music, Macintosh and Murder” 2nd May - 13th June

Glasgow School of Art

cantilevered greenhouse from the Henrun

 Indian ink on watercolour paper 1986

from "Seeing is Believing"

illustrated by Gino

published by

Lutterworth press March 2026

I am delighted to be showing these two sound drawings, No. 420 and No. 429  at the RGI, John D Kelly Gallery Exhibition. "Music, Mackintosh & Murder"

 2nd May - 13th June 2026

They are companion pieces to a small exhibition "The Mac Sounds Out"

8th May - 13th June

at the

Glasgow School of Art

Book Launch

Seeing Is Believing

Alison Cameron and the Buckingham Bookshop 

warmly invite you to an early evening event and a glass of wine on

Thursday, April 16th 2026 from 6.00 pm

in the Radcliffe Centre, Buckingham

 (Church St, Buckingham, MK18 1BY, parking available at the University campus, Hunter Street, MK18 1EG)

 to celebrate the publication of Robert Cumming’s new book

SLOW LOOKING, Book Two, Seeing is Believing

Lutterworth Press have produced a beautiful book illustrated by fellow Buckingham resident Gino Ballantyne. His lively original drawings for the book will be on display.

The evening starts at 6.30pm in the Radcliffe Centre, when Robert will give a succinct illustrated talk about the SLOW LOOKING SERIES, and how it came about. Gino and Robert together will then be in informal conversation with Alison Cameron to answer questions.

At 7.15pm there will be a chance to mingle, enjoy a glass of wine, and purchase signed copies of

 SLOW LOOKING

 Book One, Learning to Look

 Book Two, Seeing is Believing

We hope to welcome you and any friends or members of your family who would like to come with you.

reply to book.shop@buckingham.ac.uk 

A selection of illustrations drawn by Gino for  Seeing is Believing, exhibited at The Radcliffe Centre for the book launch of Seeing is Believing

Royal Glasgow Institute

of The Fine Arts

"Celebrating 150 years of Royal Status"

Lillie Art Gallery

Milngavie

G62 8BZ

17th January until 20th February

Royal Glasgow Institute

RGI Kelly Gallery, 118 Douglas Street

I am pleased to be exhibiting these two watercolours with other artists of the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts to celebrate

Christmas

15th November - 20th December 2025

Improvisations

Painting Sounds

The Radcliffe Centre

Church Street

Buckingham

14th July - 19th July

2025

Hearing Colour Seeing Sound

Evening Concert

14 Jul 2025, 20:00

The Radcliffe Centre,

Church St, Buckingham MK18 1EG, UK

Beethoven: Quintet for Piano and Winds in E flat major Op. 16

Poulenc: Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet

Christopher Redgate: Sextet for Piano and Winds (Premiere)

Debussy: Syrinx (for solo flute)

Christopher Redgate - Oboe

Gino Ballantyne - Artist

Celia Redgate - Flute

Catriona Scott - Clarinet

José Lluna - Horn

Rachel Edmonds - Bassoon

Stephen Robbings - Piano

Hearing Colour Seeing Sound is a unique concert blending live music and visual art. As the music plays, artist Gino Ballantyne will paint live on stage in response. At its heart is a creative exchange between artist and musician. Inspired by Gino’s earlier works, Christopher Redgate composed a new piece for wind sextet. Gino will respond to this and other pieces, with Chris improvising a solo in reply—continuing their artistic conversation live.

Sponsored by: Tina Mitchell, in memory of Ray

During the festival Gino made live drawings, creating a portrait for each performance. He will use these portraits to create an elaborate musical composition for full orchestra.

The polyphonic symphony will be printed as musical score and exhibition.

Seeing is Believing

"Enigma"

after Leonardo's

Mona Lisa

charcoal on watercolour paper 

"The Buckingham Literary Festival"

The Vinson Building

University of Buckingham

Buckingham

Glasgow Blythswood Festival 

https://glasgowblythswoodfestival.co.uk/

Exhibition: ‘Dear Green Place’

May 3 - May 31st

RGI Kelly Gallery, 118 Douglas Street

I am pleased to be exhibiting with other artists of the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts to celebrate Glasgow’s history, culture and resilience in this 850th year as a Royal Burgh.

"With illustrations by the artist Gino Ballantyne, Slow Looking – Book One is the start of an eye-opening adventure"

“Lutterworth Press have produced a beautiful book by Robert Cumming illustrated by Gino Ballantyne”

Robert says: “SLOW LOOKING is part autobiography telling briefly how I came to discover the pleasures of looking at works of art. It is also part travelogue as I take you to Madrid, Tuscany, St Petersburg and New York to look at four famous paintings (Velazquez / Fra Angelico/ Canaletto / Jackson Pollock) that have had a great impact throughout my life. In the book I talk about them much as I might talk about famous people who have similarly, for better or worse, had a great influence”.

SLOW LOOKING, Book One, Learning to Look has already received many favourable comments.

Robert Cumming begins in compelling autobiographical vein, and then moves on to examine the four paintings whose scrutiny forms the heart of this book. He is in the business of making us look far more carefully than we usually do, but also wants to make us think very hard. He is triumphantly successful on both fronts, and it is arguably an even greater tribute to say that - for all that I sometimes found myself unable to agree with certain of his ideas - I never stopped wanting to turn the page.

Professor David Ekserdjian, Professor of History of Art and Film at the University of Leicester, Former Editor of Apollo Magazine

Robert Cumming is a wonderfully intelligent, civilised and illuminating guide to the adventure of looking at paintings. He trains a perceptive gaze on to old masters; and his bold analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of 20th century art is particularly refreshing and timely.

Philip Hook, Novelist, historian and former Director of Impressionist & Modern Art at Sotheby’s

Robert Cumming has spent his life encouraging people to look closely at works of art and experience them directly. In theory, looking at paintings is easy, but looking intensely and documenting the experience is not much done, or regarded as important, by art historians, nor is it encouraged by museums. This book is a primer in how to look — how to allow looking to develop by doing it with intensity and total concentration and not accepting what one is told by art historians. I strongly recommend it.

Sir Charles Saumarez Smith, former Director, National Gallery (London)

You are warmly invited to an early evening event and a glass of wine on

Thursday November 14th 6.30pm - 8pm

The Buckingham Bookshop

and Vinson Auditorium

University of Buckingham Vinson Building
21 Hunter Street

Buckingham MK18 1EG

to reserve a space contact

book.shop@buckingham.ac.uk

“Lutterworth Press have produced a beautiful book illustrated by Gino Ballantyne. His lively original drawings for the book will be on display”

The evening starts at 6.30 pm in the comfortable University Lecture Theatre when Gino and Robert will be in informal conversation with Alison Cameron who runs the excellent Buckingham Bookshop.

At 7.15 pm there will be a chance to mingle, enjoy glass of wine, purchase signed copies SLOW LOOKING, and browse the Bookshop.

Dates of the London Launch to follow

Slow Looking at The Rebecca Hossack Gallery

Author Robert Cumming shares with Rebecca his wealth of experience looking and appreciating art. 12th February 2025

https://lutterworthpress.wordpress.com/2025/03/27/an-evening-of-art-and-slow-looking-at-the-caledonian-club/