Alberto Morrocco was born in Aberdeen in 1917 of Italian parents. At the remarkably young age of 14, he went to Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen where he was taught by James Cowie and Robert Sivell.

In 1950, he was appointed Head of Painting at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee. It was during this time, that the more Morrocco style emerged as he started to explore colour in a serious way. Whilst a superb draughtsman and portrait painter, he was most renowned for his still lifes and figurative paintings based on Italian life. Clowns, beachboys, peasant women and melon sellers became his signature subjects and celebrate his flamboyant and colourful personality. He was a lover of life, and his last solo exhibition in 1997, at Thackeray Gallery, confirmed this.

Alberto's work can be seen on permanent display at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the City Art Centre, Edinburgh, as well as being in many other collections both public and private, notably the Fleming Collection, London. His public works include murals for St Columba's Church, Glenrothes and the Liff Hospital, Dundee.

During his lifetime, he received praise and recognition for his works and was awarded the San Vito Prize in Rome in 1959, honorary degrees from Aberdeen and Dundee Universities during the 1980's, and in 1993, he was awarded an OBE.

Following Alberto's death in 1998, Thackeray Gallery has continued to work closely with his Estate, holding three exhibitions in 2001, 2003, and 2005.

Alberto Morrocco exhibited with Thackeray Gallery from 1977.

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