About the Artist

Born Dunfermline, Educated Edinburgh and trained at the RSA schools. Studied also two years in Antwerp under Verlat. Most well known for his paintings of animals. Influenced by Joseph Crawhall and Edwin Alexander whose sister he married in 1896. His career developed at a time of an upsurge of interest for animal painting. Commissioned by Andrew Carnegie to paint a number of animal portraits as a result of which he acquired a studio in Spinningdale, Sutherland where he spent most summers between 1905 & 1923. With TH Gillespie, was one of the founders of Edinburgh Zoological Gardens. In his watercolours he tended to use tinted, often rough paper creating highlights with bodycolour, but sometimes with rich finish and close attention to detail. “He shows sympathetic and highly skilled craftsmanship…few artists have shown greater appreciation of animal life or of its relationship with its landscape environment.” Hardie. Teacher at Edinburgh College of Art.
Exhibted RA(18), RSA(204), RSW(128), RHA(5), GI(98), AAS 1885-1937, Lillie Art Gallery (27).
Represented in NGS, Glasgow AG, Kirkcaldy AG, City of Edinburgh Collection (2), Brodie Castle (NTS).
Ref. The Dictionary of Scottish Art & Architecture by Peter McEwan.