The Edinburgh School

The Edinburgh School refers to a group of 20th century artists connected with Edinburgh. Most studied at Edinburgh College of Art during or soon after the First World War, and some taught there together in the mid-20th century. As friends and colleagues, they discussed painting and were influenced by one another's work. Art critic Giles Sutherland, writing in The Times, has suggested: "The work of the Edinburgh School is characterised by virtuoso displays in the use of paint, vivid and often non-naturalistic colour and themes such as still-life, seascape and landscape."^[1]

The following are generally thought of as Edinburgh School painters.

• William Crozier^[2] (1893–1930)
• William Geissler (1894–1963)
• William Gillies (1898–1973)
• William MacTaggart^[3] (1903–1981)
• John Maxwell (1905–1962)
• Robin Philipson (1916–1992)
• Anne Redpath (1895–1965)
• Adam Bruce Thomson (1885–1976)

Some other painters associated with Edinburgh may also be called Edinburgh School artists, or a 'new generation' of the Edinburgh School.

Notes

1. ↑ Giles Sutherland, the British art critic and writer, in The Times 6 Oct 1999
2. ↑ Not to be confused with the artist William Crozier who was born in Glasgow in 1930 and is associated with both Ireland and Scotland.
3. ↑ William MacTaggart is often known as Sir William MacTaggart or William MacTaggart the Younger, to distinguish him from his grandfather William McTaggart (no 'a' after the 'M') who was also a painter.

The 'Edinburgh School' refers to a group of artists whose work shares certain characteristics and is not the same as the 'Edinburgh School of Art'. This latter name is quite often used for the college even though it has been officially called Edinburgh College of Art since 1907.

See also

• Macmillan, Duncan Scottish Art in the 20th Century 1890–2001 (2001)
• Anne Redpath and the Edinburgh School