Alexander Carrick RSA 1882-1966

Alexander Carrick was born in Musselburgh in 1882, and received his early training as a sculptor in Edinburgh, having studied at the Royal Institute School, and later in London, where he studied and worked for a period. Returning to Edinburgh, he continued to model and carve in stone until he joined the Army in World War One, serving in the Royal Artillery.

On his discharge, his work soon attracted attention and he was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1918 and Academician in 1929. Throughout his career he exhibited and carried out important and out- standing works. Between 1918 and 1942, when he left for the Borders, he taught in the Edinburgh College of Art and was for many years Head of the Sculpture Department.

Many former students, some now prominent Scottish sculptors, will readily own how much they owe to his inspiring influence and example and recall warmly the encouragement they received from him. This sense of indebtedness is also shared by many architects whom he taught as students, and who have since achieved distinction in Scotland and beyond.

He had a very fitting sense of the application of sculpture to buildings and therefore could co-operate happily when commissioned for work on buildings as he frequently was. In this respect, the warrior figure of William Wallace near the drawbridge at Edinburgh Castle, the figures of Justice on the Sheriff Court Building, the large panel in relief of Artillerymen in action at Edinburgh Castle War Memorial, and the Oban War Memorial might all be mentioned as examples showing his power as a carver in stone, and modeller.

In his smaller intimate work there is the same evidence of the sensitive artist. Carrick was a Scotsman through and through. He had a deep love for the Lowlands while in his make-up he had the fervour of the Celt. He held strong views, was spirited, enjoyed a humorous situation, and could be forth- right. To those who knew him he was kindly and ready to help, as many can testify.

In his latter years, when his health did not permit him to garden or fish in a nearby stream or river, as before, he enjoyed recounting events of the past which he did with the same dramatic intensity as in his active years - always enlivening occasions. He was a staunch friend, and his loyalty and devotion were never more apparent than when seen within his own happy family circle, Mr. Carrick died in Peel Hospital, Galashiels, on 26th January, 1966, and was survived by his wife (who has since died) and two daughters,

Transcribed from the 1966 RSA Annual Report