Peter Howson

[Iain Fisher]

A letter from Steven Berkoff to The Times, 2 July 2026

Sir, Regarding Richard Morrison's article (Jun 19; letter, Jun 23) on the enormous gap in our national life left by David Hockney's death, I would like to suggest as his replacement as a member of the Order of Merit Peter Howson, a Scottish realist painter who has for years been at the forefront of modern art. He has created a furious collection of the most dynamic images seen in recent years. Lamentably I feel his work has been disgracefully neglected, even though he was appointed the official painter for the Bosnian war, where his paintings depicting the atrocities of war were not only shocking but deeply personal. Steven Berkoff London E14

You can see Peter Howson's work here
https://peterhowson.co.uk/

[Iain Fisher]

Steven recommends a Scots painter. “I want everyone to get down to the new exhibition by Peter Howson, the great Scottish war artist. No other British artist approaches him but he doesn't get the attention of those rich Hoxton painters. Perhaps because he doesn't go twittering around town like Tracey Emin.”  You can see his work at Flowers East gallery.  See the news page for more details.