William scott painter biography sample
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William Scott CBE, RA (), acclaimed British artist of the Post-war generation was, together with Peter Lanyon and Patrick Heron, considered one of the giants of the Modernist movement in the UK. Patrick Heron, who also doubled as ‘one of the finest art critics of the century’, wrote perceptively of Scott’s work. ‘It is the sensation of space and depth in a painted flatness,’ he explained in , ‘that inspires much contemporary painting. Scott is a brilliant exponent of it.’
Scott was born in Greenock, Scotland, in and raised in Northern Ireland, where he lost his father in an accident at an early age. Winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy Schools in London, the young Scott became friends and room-mates with the poet Dylan Thomas. Following five years in the army, he then settled in England with his wife, the sculptor Mary Scott, and their two boys. It was shortly after the war was over that he b
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15 February
William George Scott was born at 24 Tobago Street, Greenock, in the county of Renfrew, on the southern finansinstitut of the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. His father, William John Scott, came from Killymard in Co. Donegal, Ireland; his mother, Agnes Murray, from Glasgow. bygd the time Scott was born, they already had two daughters, Cathy and Nancy.
4 August
Britain entered the –18 war. Scott’s father volunteered for the army, serving as a driver in the Highland Horse Brigade.
30 October
Scott’s sister Gretta was born. By this date the family had moved to 8 Drumfrochar Road, Greenock.
16 December
Scott’s brother Charles was born.
William John Scott was demobilised from the army and returned home to find his wife working at the flour mills. Agnes Scott and the five children were still living at 8 Drumfrochar Road and Scott was attending the nearby Mearns Street School. William John Scott funnen work in Greenock as a sign writer, and was employed by barbers’ shops and se
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Scott was born on September 12, at St. Leonard’s, Edinburgh, the seventh child of the engraver Robert Scott and his wife Ross Bell. William was the younger brother of the painter David Scott. William was educated at Edinburgh high school. He initially received training as an illustrator and engraver from his father. He then studied at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh under William Allan and later at the Edinburgh School of Art. In he spent some months in London drawing from the antique at the British Museum. Scott was also an accomplished poet with his first verses published in In his poems appeared in Tait's Magazine and in the Edinburgh University Souvenir. For some years he assisted his father in his engraving business in Edinburgh before moving in to London where he supported himself by etching, engraving, and painting. At this time his aspiration was to be a history painter. During his time in London he was associated with a group of painters known as The Clique that includ