George Houston RSA RSW

1869 – 1947

Houston was born in Dalry, Ayrshire later moving to Countess Street in Saltcoats where the young John Lavery had lived. After attending Glasgow School of Art, Houston designed linoleum patterns and worked at the Glasgow Citizen Newspaper as an illustrator.

He set up his studio in Buchanan Street in 1905 and from then concentrated on painting the landscapes of his native Ayrshire and his summer home around Loch Fyne in Argyll. He travelled to the Continent in his early years and to Japan with Lord Weir via the Trans-Siberian Railway in 1912.

He was elected to the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour, RSW, in 1906 as an Associate of the RSA in 1909 and to full membership in 1924.

Houston produced three important folios of etchings in 1912 and 1913 including one entitled Burns Country. He also collaborated with author and journalist Neil Munro on a book entitled Ayrshire Idylls which was also published at that time.

Houston sold his paintings at major Scottish annual exhibitions at the RSA and RGI in particular and through Glasgow art dealers Warneuke’s and James McClure and Sons Ltd. e remain active until his last years.