Ian Hamilton Finlay

Ian Hamilton Finlay was born in 1925 in Nassau, Bahamas. He died 27 March 2006, aged 80.

A philosopher, sculptor and poet, Ian Hamilton Finlay reinvigorated the classical tradition in a body of work that spans a wide range of creative forms, all celebrating the sustaining power of words. His diverse production included prints, poems, books, inscriptions, neons, sculptures, permanent installations and landscape design.

For almost forty years, he drew on philosophical texts, myths, characters and imagery from the past to create enigmatic juxtapositions that generated new ideas. His deft command of syntax and narrative structure produced finely tuned distinctions shaped by a lyrical philosophical sensibility. His skill lay in his ability to distil complex concepts into coherent single words or short phrases, often infused with his characteristic wit and wry humour.

In 1961 he founded Wild Hawthorn Press with Jessie McGuffie and, within a few years, had established himself internationally as Britain’s leading concrete poet. His publications continue to play a vital role in disseminating his work as a visual artist. As a sculptor, he worked collaboratively across a wide range of materials, realising his concepts through stone carving, constructed objects and neon.

From the mid-1960s, Finlay lived and worked at Stonypath, south-west of Edinburgh, where he transformed the surrounding rural acres into a unique garden and lifelong project: Little Sparta.