James Whitelaw Hamilton RSW RSA

1860 – 1932

A Glaswegian by birth, Hamilton trained in the city and later in Paris. He was a friend of many of the Glasgow Boys but not really of their school. He painted with them on many occasions most notably at Cockburnspath in 1884. Some of his best work was of harbour scenes in Berwickshire fishing ports, notably Burnmouth and Eyemouth.

Hamilton’s work was appreciated in Europe. He was a member of the Munich Secession and won a prize at the International Exhibition in the city in 1897. He was elected to the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours in 1895, an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1911 and to full membership of the RSA in 1922.

He lived latterly in Helensburgh where he died in 1932.