Background
Blair Shōgen Thomson is a shodō calligrapher, artist, researcher and Zen teacher who has worked across contemporary art, community arts and facilitation over the last twenty years. He is currently working on PhD research of early modern Japanese 墨蹟 bokuseki Zen calligraphy at Bristol University. His studio base is in Glasgow, Scotland and he also practices regularly in Japan. In 2025 Blair was awarded a Special Selection prize (Tokusen 特選) for Shodō calligraphy at the 73rd annual Shokaisha Exhibition 第73回 書海社展 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.
In his creative work he explores 真如 shinnyo (suchness) and dynamic impermanence through various approaches. Regular shodō 書道 studio practice investigates Zen themes such as the wondrous nature of reality, and explores Chinese and Japanese poetry and calligraphy text interactions through a mix of copying works by masters and developing sakuhin 作品 (artistic works).
Artworks survey suchness and daichi 大地 (the great earth) expressed through shattered glimpses of spaces and environments in flux, locating worlds within worlds. He explores interconnecting cultural, embodied and creative practices with approaches that have expanded from visual art to include calligraphy, mindful and meditative awareness practices.
In 2022 Blair received shihō 嗣法 (transmission) from his Zen teacher John Fraser at Glasgow Zen Group (in the Nishijima Rōshi lineage) certifying him to teach, and he currently leads a weekly Zazen and Okyō online sitting. Previous to this Blair received the Zen precepts and Buddhist name Shōgen 生現 in 2017 at Ardfern on the west coast of Scotland. His teaching interests include opening up the meanings of Zen teachings and texts through re-appraising familiar principles and phrases, and also a focus on ritual and physical practice. Talk themes have included hishiryō 非思量 (neither thinking nor not thinking).
Blair was born in Paisley, Scotland in 1980. Exhibiting publicly since age 18 and graduating from Glasgow School of Art in 2002, his interests widened from landscape painting and abstraction to drawing, poetry, video and photography. Blair has exhibited in as well as curated mixed and solo shows in Scotland, England, U.S.A, Japan, and elsewhere, and he is thankful to have had his artwork collected worldwide in many collections including in Japan, McKinsey & Co. and Scottish Widows.
Meandering paths moved him to lead community art workshops, and set up the Drawing and Painting Studio in 2008, which developed to encompass wellbeing approaches, and Japanese arts and cultural projects which have been kindly supported by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation.
Workshops including shakyō 写経 (Sutra copying), tenkoku 篆刻 (seal engraving) and shodō calligraphy have also been delivered for organisations including Bristol University, Cowden Japanese garden, Shiseido Company and JETAA Scotland.
Regular visits to Japan began in 2002, when he started studying shodō with calligrapher Shujo Wakabayashi, then in his eighties. Blair exhibited with him and other Japanese and Chinese visual artists in 2009 and the next year represented the UK at the ART/X/TOYAMA International Exhibition. Since Wakabayashi, who was like a grandfather to him, passed away, Blair met new shodō masters as well as trained for short periods with Sōtō Zen monks at Daijōji (Kanazawa) and Kōshōji (Kyoto) monasteries. From 2017 to the present time he has been training with advanced shodō teacher Tanimura Shundō Sensei in Tokyo.
He was a board member on the committee of the Royal Glasgow Institute charitable arts organisation from 2007 to 2012, and since then has assisted with organisation at Glasgow Zen Group, a community interest company. He regularly collaborates on creative and nature related or zen projects, such as with the inspiring Margaret Kerr. Blair has an interest in haiku and waka poetry and has translated some poems by Dōgen Zenji and Ryōkan.
Selected Awards, Project Grants and Prizes:
| 2025 | Samantha Kelly Memorial Prize for Postgraduate Students, Bristol University, for academic performance and participation |
| 2025 | Special Selection prize (Tokusen 特選) for calligraphy at the 73rd Shokaisha Exhibition 第73回 書海社展 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum |
| 2024 | Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation (GBSF) Award: ‘Japanese Haiga, a Harmony of Brush Painting and Poetry’ |
| 2024 | The University of Bristol Outstanding PLUS Award: Wellbeing Champion for the 2023/24 academic year |
| 2022 – 2023 | Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation (GBSF) Award: ‘Tenkoku Japanese Seal Engraving and Zen Stamp Making’ – exploring design, history and techniques (meeting teachers and monks in Japan, Glasgow workshops) |
| 2020 – 2021 | Creative Scotland (administered by Wheatley Foundation) Grant for Expressive Youth Arts; Creative Scotland Youth Arts Manga Anime Project (administered by GlasgowCAN); Time Space Money Bursary, Artists Network (personal practice) |
| 2019 | GBSF Award for ‘Shodō Calligraphy and Mindful Meditation Practice’ – visit to Japan exploring Shodo styles and history (meeting monks, workshops delivered around Glasgow) |
| 2018 | Funding for Clydebank Art Group, awarded by West Dunbartonshire Community Budgeting; Glasgow Airport Flightpath Fund for Clydebank creative groups; GlasgowCAN Commissioned Projects Award for Maryhill community arts |
| 2016 – 2017 | Fleming Trust Grants for creative drawing project with young people and vulnerable adults |
| 2011 | GBSF Award for ‘The Way to Northern Cherry Blossoms’ Great East Japan Earthquake Charity Exhibition, Royal Glasgow Institute (RGI) Kelly Gallery, fundraising for Japanese Red Cross, supported by Japanese Consul General Mr Tarahara (grant through RGI) |
| 2007 | RGI Langside College Watercolour Award; RGI Art Club Fellowship Award |
| 2002 – 2012 | Awarded Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour Residency, Hospitalfield House; Awards for artwork: RGI Scholarship; RGI Exhibitionship |
| 2002 | Awarded Esmee Fairbairn Residency at Cove Park |
| 2001 | 3rd Year Prize, Glasgow School of Art experiments in etching, painting |
Selected Activities:
2016 – 2023
| 2022 | Received Zen Transmission and Shihō to become a Zen teacher, transmission in Nishijima Roshi Soto Zen lineage through Glasgow Zen Group (GZG) |
| 2022 | Art/X/Toyama public exhibition (invited), Uozu, Japan, showing series of photographs and paintings |
| 2022 | Post Pandemic Community Mural Project, Maryhill Hub |
| 2019 | Sanzensha monastic training at Kōshōji Temple (Sōtō), Uji, with monk Isozaki Endai; Sōtō Zazen and mindfulness experience with Issho Fujita (Hayama) and at Tokyo Dōgen Sangha, Seishōji, Zenshoin, Kōunji, Tōshōji temples |
| 2019 | Advanced Mindfulness Course, Scottish Buddhist Vihara. Teacher Nelum Jayakody: Four Foundations of Mindfulness; emphasis on body scan (sitting); mindfulness of breathing |
| 2019 | Community art exhibition Maryhill Hub with NUC |
| 2019 | Healthy Heads mental health workshop, Glasgow Youth Theatre |
| 2019 | Sotozen Zazen kai experience with Issho Fujita and at Tokyo Dogen Sangha, Seishouji, Zenshoin, Kouunji, Toushouji, Daijouji temples |
| 2019 | visits and practice to Shingon, Rinzai zen, Hossoushu (Yogacara school) temples Japan |
| 2017 – 2019 | Workshops/ day retreats at Lenzie working with Margaret Kerr, combining art / calligraphy with mindful meditation |
| 2017 – present | Shodo calligraphy and Shakyo sutra tracing workshops in Glasgow and southern Scotland |
| 2018 | MBSR Mindfulness Course, Scottish Buddhist Vihara. Teacher Nelum Jayakody |
| 2018 | Sanzensha monastic training at Daijoji Temple, Kanazawa (Sōtō), with abbot Azuma Ryushin (including Takuhatsu Begging and Okyō Chanting Service practices) |
| 2017 to present | student of Shodo calligraphy masters teaching in Tokyo |
| 2017 | Sanzensha training at Daijoji Temple (Sōtō), Kanazawa, with abbot Azuma Ryushin (including Zazen, Shakyo Sutra Tracing, Sado Tea Ceremony practices). Sutra Tracing with Tanimura Sensei at Seishoji; Sutra Tracing at Houssoushu temple |
| 2016 | Art directing and publication of ‘Future’ for Aye Write Book Festival, collaboration between literacy and art for adult learners, Glasgow |
2010 – 2015
| 2013 | Exhibiting ‘Urban Dynamics’ series of drawings at Factory Hanbunko Gallery, Takaoka, Japan |
| 2013 | ‘6×4” Exhibition’, Cooper Gallery Space, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, mixed show |
| 2012- 2022 | Glasgow Zen Group Tenzo and Secretary roles |
| 2012 | Tokyo Exhibition ‘Toki No Ashiato’ (‘Traces of Time’) at Gallery 80, Omotesando, with Wakabayashi Shujo (curated by Blair and fashion designer Chizuko Wakabayashi) |
| 2011 – 12 | Community Workshops for the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts |
| 2011 | Curating ‘The Way to Northern Cherry Blossoms’ Japan Earthquake Charity Exhibition, RGI Kelly Gallery and Blair Thomson’s Studio, Glasgow |
| 2011 | Showing with Cove Park Print Portfolio, Boisdale Gallery, London, curated by Fleming Collection. |
| 2010 | ART/X/TOYAMA International Exhibition, representing U.K. and participating in the International Art Symposium and Artist Talks, co-leading art workshop |
| 2010 | Curating for Royal Glasgow Institute: ‘Artist’s Statement’ section at Glasgow Art Fair. Artists selected from throughout Scotland including sculpture by George Wyllie |
| 2010 | RGI’s ‘Artist’s Statement’ section at Glasgow Art Fair, also represented by John Green Fine Art; Hospitalfield Artist Resident Exhibition at Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh; Collaboration with Designworks, SECC, Glasgow |
2004 – 2009
| 2009 | ‘Trailing the North Wind’, Glasgow Art Club solo exhibition. |
| 2009 | Wakabayashi Shujo 90th Sho Exhibition, Toyama, Japan, showing 8 works & collaborating with him and designer Chizuko Wakabayashi; RSA Spring Open, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh; RGI Annual Exhibition; Billcliffe Gallery Glasgow |
| 2008 – present | Founded the Drawing and Painting Studio |
| 2008 | Sophie Montgomery Art, Kensington, London, featured artist; Curating for Glasgow Art Club ‘New Faces to Glasgow Art Club’; Ricefield Gallery, Glasgow |
| 2007 – present | Studying with Zen teacher John Fraser, GZG (Sōtō Zen tradition) |
| 2007 – present | Participating in Glasgow Zen Group retreats at Ardfern, Arran, Kagyu Samye Dzong Glasgow |
| 2007 | Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, ‘Highland’; New York Art Fair representing Flying Colours Gallery; RGI Annual Exhibition, prizes for ‘Rhythms Kilcreggan’; Kilmorack Gallery, Invernessshire; House for an Art Lover, Glasgow |
| 2006 | Abstract Exhibition’, Scotland Art, Edinburgh; Two person show at Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen; Third Step Gallery solo show ‘In Time with the Wind’, Trongate, Glasgow |
| 2005 | London Art Fair, Baillie Gallery, London |
| 2004 | Scottish Art Today, Lloyds, Edinburgh; ‘Internationalism’ Royal Concert Hall Exhibition, Glasgow |
1992 – 2003
| 2003 | GSA students/ graduates show, Studio 24, West Kilbride; Full Circle Gallery, Glasgow |
| 2003 | Solo show Stenton Gallery, East Lothian |
| 2002 – 2012 | Apprentice of Shodō Master Wakabayashi Shūjō, Toyama, assisting him and collaborating |
| 2002 – 03 | Workshops for Largs Academy |
| 2002 | Glasgow School of Art ‘Degree Show’ Exhibition, Mackintosh Gallery, Mackintosh Building; ‘Terra Nova’ Degree Show Selection, Mackintosh Gallery, GSA; Compass Gallery ‘Next Generation’ Glasgow |
| 2002 | Solo exhibition at the Kelly Gallery, Glasgow; Solo Exhibition at Studio 24, West Kilbride |
| 2001 | Solo Exhibition at Gallery Cossachok, Glasgow |
| 2000 – 2016 | Art tutoring at Abernethy/ Glencoe with Hamilton College groups |
| 2000 | Laing Landscape Painting Competition, Mall Galleries, London |
| 1998 – 2002 | Glasgow School of Art Painting Department, BA(hons) Fine Art |
1992 – 98 | Hamilton College Art Department, studying art and design under Alan Wilson |