Gallerist and writer Roger Billcliffe, who first opened the Fine Art Society Gallery in 1979, prior to opening his eponymous shop, announced his retirement on Sunday afternoon.
In a statement, he wrote: “I will be 80 in January, and while it has been a difficult and sad decision, after 46 years running a gallery I believe this will be an appropriate time to stand down.
Billcliffe added: “The Gallery has experienced some wonderful highs, and of course we’ve had our lows. Like many others in the art business, we have witnessed many market moods, none more so than since Covid-19 which changed our personal and business lives in many ways.
“While on-line selling of art has increased, footfall in Glasgow has dropped significantly, reflecting the demise or relocation of many of the businesses which made our area of the city centre so vibrant.”
Despite a challenging post-Covid economy, Glasgow city centre has seen an uptick in footfall this year, according to statistics exclusively revealed by The Herald.
According to the council, the number of visitors rose by 3.7% in the first quarter of 2025, ahead of the UK and Scotland average.
In addition, night-time footfall (between 6pm and 6am) rose by nearly 10% in the first quarter.
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Billcliffe, who said the gallery will be open for ‘business as usual’ over the next three months, also thanked his customers and artists for their ‘immense support’ over the years.
Many of Scotland’s leading artists have displayed their work at the gallery, including Duncan Shanks, Peter Howson, Gordon Mitchell, Christine McArthur, James D. Robertson, and Mary Armour.