Sold
Size:
Height – 22.7cm
Width – 17.8cm
Literature: Llewellyn, Sacha, and Paul Liss. Portrait of an Artist. Liss Llewellyn, 2021, p.277.
Many artists, especially within the Northern Europen tradition, made self portraits by candlelit, most famously Rembrandt and Joseph Wright of Derby.
Painter and printmaker born in Moniaive, Dumfriesshire into the artistic Paterson family a son of the Scottish Royal Academician James Paterson. Hamish as he was always known studied at the Edinburgh College of Art but, before starting in 1910 spent a year in the architectural offices of Lorimer in Edinburgh and another year working as a stained glass designer for James Ballantyne. During World War I Hamish, a 2nd Lieutenant with the 9th Royal Scots Regiment was injured in France. Recovered, he was commissioned by the Duke of Atholl to paint the Duchess at Blair Castle. Hamish’s uncle William Bell Paterson, (1859-1952) gave him an exhibition at his eponymous London gallery in Old Bond Street in 1922 which helped boost his credibility, especially as a portrait painter. His other sitters included David Lloyd George and many titled people. But, instead of pursuing portraits, Paterson chose to live in France painting landscapes. In 1926 he went to paint at Cassis and exhibited at the Scottish Society of Artists. Although not a member, he exhibited at the Society of Artist Printmakers from 1935 to 1940.
Hamish showed at the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Royal Academy, Royal Hibernian Academy, Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour and Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. His work was represented in the Paterson Family exhibition at Belgrave Gallery, London in 1977 and in the Paterson Family exhibition staged at the Lillie Art Gallery in 1983 which was funded by the Scottish Arts Council. Examples of his work are in the collections of the National Gallery of Scotland, Perth & Kinross Council and the Hunterian, Glasgow. Hamish died at Moniaive, Dumfries and is buried next to his father.
Son of James Paterson and cousin of Viola Paterson. Was educated at the Ryleys’ in Chester, but left school early at the age of 15.
In 1908 worked at Lorimer architects office in Edinburgh, but only for a short period and in 1909 he was appointed to the stained glass designer James Ballantyne and in 1910 at the same time began studying at the Edinburgh College of Art.
He joined the 9th Royal Scots Regiment at the age of 24. He was injured during Army service in World War I, but he recovered to be able to paint again. In 1921 was invited by the Duke of Atholl to paint at Blair Castle, where he painted a fine portrait of the Duchess. His uncle William Bell Paterson gave him a major exhibition of 150 pictures at his gallery in Bond Street, London in 1922 which included portraits of the former prime minister David Lloyd George and many titled people, but instead of pursuing portraits Paterson chose to live in France painting landscapes. In 1926 went to paint at Cassis and exhibited at the Scottish Society of Artists. In 1928 Scottish Modern Arts Association purchased the portrait of W O Hutchison. Although not a member, he exhibited at the Society of Artist Printmakers from 1935 to 1940. Showed at RSA, RA, Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts and his work was included in the Paterson Family exhibition at Belgrave Gallery in 1977 and James Paterson and following the Family Traditions at the Lillie Art Gallery in 1983, sponsored by the Scottish Arts Council.
