William Gillies

Sir William Gillies was one of the most distinguished Scottish painters of the 20th century, celebrated for his lyrical landscapes of the Scottish Borders and East Lothian countryside as well as his vibrant still life compositions. Deeply influenced by his studies in Paris and his exposure to Post-Impressionism and early Modernism, he developed a fluid, colour-rich style that merged European modernist sensibilities with a distinctly Scottish sensibility rooted in place. A long-serving head of painting at Edinburgh College of Art, Gillies was a major influence on generations of Scottish artists and received numerous honours including a CBE and knighthood; his works are held in collections including the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.