Poppies and Roses is a stil life painting by John Houston (1930-2008) that captures in rich shades of red, green, blue and white colour two bouquets of flowers. The poppies are captured with smooth, blended strokes of red colour that give the petals depth and detail. In contrast, the roses are loosely captured in thick, wide strokes of white colour. This creates an illusion of the poppies being closer to the viewer on a piece that otherwise appears rather flat because of the continuous background, which makes the vases appear to be floating. The leaves of the poppies and the leaves of the roses are also in loose detail through less controlled strokes of singular toned paint, creating aless realistic feel to this still life. 

Houston's influence as a colourist is present in this work through the rich grouping of singular colours that make up the subject. The focus of the piece is also on the contrast of the bright red colour of the poppies with the bright white of the roses. Houston's work more often focused on landscapes, with architectural and coastal scenes that involve bright colour palettes. 

John Houston OBE RSA RSW, 1930-2008

Born at Buckhaven, near Kirkcaldy, Fife, Houston studied at Edinburgh College of Art between 1948 and 1954. He was awarded a travelling scholarship and spent six months in Italy with David Michie during his final year at the college. After joining the teaching staff of the college in 1955 he was Deputy Head of the School of Drawing and Painting from 1982 until his retirement in 1989. He married Elizabeth Blackadder in 1959. They travelled widely in Europe, as well as visiting America and Japan.
Houston is a confirmed colourist. He has long admired Turner, "a constant companion and hero", and Edvard Munch. Among other sources of inspiration are the American painter Mark Rothko and the German painters Emil Nolde, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Max Beckman.