Ask for the famous artists of Nhs Lothian and you will hear of William Smellie Watson, Marj Bond, Lynn Mcgregor and Philip G Duthie.
Below, the 16 best-known of the 33 artists with works of Nhs Lothian in our catalogue (83 works), each with what the museum holds of them.
The masters of the originals
The 10 masters whose originals hang in Nhs Lothian
For each master: where and when they were born, their movement, how many originals the museum keeps in our catalogue, a note from their life, and the originals to see.
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1. William Smellie Watson 1796–1874
1796–1874 2 originals at Nhs Lothian
Furthermore, Watson's work includes several notable commissions from Edinburgh society, including members of the merchant class and prominent academics.
Originals at Nhs Lothian
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2. Marj Bond born 1939
born 1939 7 originals at Nhs Lothian
Marjorie “Marj” Brasch, a name now synonymous with the vibrant heart of Scottish watercolour, wasn’t simply an artist; she was a conduit, channeling the raw beauty of her homeland – its rugged landscapes, ancient myths, and deeply felt spirituality – onto canvas.
Originals at Nhs Lothian
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3. Lynn Mcgregor born 1959
born 1959 4 originals at Nhs Lothian
Lynn McGregor is a Scottish artist born in Pittenweem, Fife, in 1959. McGregor's formative years were shaped by the artistic traditions of Fife and Scotland, exposing her to Impressionist techniques and a reverence for capturing fleeting moments of beauty. McGregor's paintings have garnered critical acclaim and are held in prestigious collections across the UK and internationally.
Originals at Nhs Lothian
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4. Philip G Duthie born 1957
born 1957 6 originals at Nhs Lothian
Under the mentorship of influential instructors, he moved beyond traditional academic constraints, embracing an experimental approach to oil painting.
Originals at Nhs Lothian
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5. Olivia Irvine born 1960
born 1960 4 originals at Nhs Lothian
Irvine’s artistic foundation was forged at the prestigious Edinburgh College of Art, where she earned her BA Honours in Drawing and Painting along with a Diploma in Postgraduate Studies.
Originals at Nhs Lothian
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6. Maggie Milne born 1957
born 1957 3 originals at Nhs Lothian
Milne’s technique is rooted in traditional oil painting methods, yet she infuses her work with a remarkable sensitivity to color and texture. While Milne is perhaps best known for her biblical scenes, her artistic range extends beyond this singular focus.
Originals at Nhs Lothian
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Contemporary Realism
7. Damian Callan born 1960
born 1960 Contemporary Realism 7 originals at Nhs Lothian
Callan employs a technique where paint is applied in thick layers, creating textured surfaces that capture light and shadow with remarkable accuracy.
Originals at Nhs Lothian
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8. Ivor M Mackay born 1969
born 1969 4 originals at Nhs Lothian
Ivor M Mackay was born in 1969, finding his roots in the Isle of Lewis, one of the Outer Hebrides in North West Scotland. To turn this connection to the land into a formal practice, he moved toward academic study.
Originals at Nhs Lothian
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9. Alison Mcgill born 1974
born 1974 5 originals at Nhs Lothian
It was during this period, between 1992 and 1998, that her technical identity began to coalesce. What truly distinguishes McGill’s oeuvre is her signature technique: a sophisticated, tactile fusion of oil paint and molten wax.
Originals at Nhs Lothian
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7 originals at Nhs Lothian
The vastness of the landscape, the dramatic shifts in light and shadow, and the ancient textures of the earth became central themes in her work.
Originals at Nhs Lothian
The masters, continued
No. 11 to No. 16: more masters of Nhs Lothian
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11. Janet M Melrose
6 originals at Nhs Lothian
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12. Ruth Addinall
2 originals at Nhs Lothian
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13. Eric Thornton Prehn
2 originals at Nhs Lothian
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14. John Graham Gilbert
Neoclassicism
1794–1866 · born in Glasgow, United Kingdom · 2 originals at Nhs Lothian
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15. Keith Grant
born 1930 · born in Liverpool, United Kingdom · 2 originals at Nhs Lothian
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16. Peter Thomson
born 1962 · born in United Kingdom · 3 originals at Nhs Lothian
The house in figures
The masters of Nhs Lothian, in figures
The masters with the most originals at Nhs Lothian
Masters with two originals or more, by century of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by country of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by movement
Women masters
The women whose originals hang in Nhs Lothian
2 women masters, 2 originals, in our catalogue of Nhs Lothian.
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Elizabeth Blackadder
1931–2021 · born in Falkirk, United Kingdom · 1 originals at Nhs Lothian
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Asked of us
Questions on the masters of Nhs Lothian
Open a question to read the answer.
Which artist in Nhs Lothian is the most famous?
William Smellie Watson, with 2 works at Nhs Lothian in our catalogue (Dr Duncan Vertue and George Vertue); then Marj Bond and Lynn Mcgregor.
What did William Smellie Watson paint that hangs in Nhs Lothian?
2 works by William Smellie Watson at Nhs Lothian are in our catalogue: Dr Duncan Vertue and George Vertue among them.
How many Marj Bond paintings are in Nhs Lothian?
7 works by Marj Bond at Nhs Lothian are in our catalogue: Eagle and Jaguar Warriors (Green Faces) (1993), Eagle and Jaguar (1993), Aztec Head and Sun and Moon among them.
What did Lynn Mcgregor paint that hangs in Nhs Lothian?
4 works by Lynn Mcgregor at Nhs Lothian are in our catalogue: Space within (1991), Dusk (1997), Night Sky over Jura and Fading Sun (1991) among them.
Who are the top 10 artists in Nhs Lothian?
By fame: William Smellie Watson (2), Marj Bond (7), Lynn Mcgregor (4), Philip G Duthie (6), Olivia Irvine (4), Maggie Milne (3), Damian Callan (7), Ivor M Mackay (4), Alison Mcgill (5) and Louise Breslin Cameron (7).
Who has the most paintings in the collection of Nhs Lothian?
Our catalogue holds 7 works by Marj Bond at Nhs Lothian; next come Damian Callan (7), Louise Breslin Cameron (7) and Philip G Duthie (6).
Is Leonardo da Vinci in Nhs Lothian?
No: Nhs Lothian holds no work by Leonardo da Vinci in our catalogue.
Is Pablo Picasso in Nhs Lothian?
No: Nhs Lothian holds no work by Pablo Picasso in our catalogue.
How many women artists are in Nhs Lothian?
2 women artists have works of Nhs Lothian in our catalogue, among them Elizabeth Blackadder (1) and Lucinda Mackay (1).
Where do the artists of Nhs Lothian come from?
By country of birth, the artists with two works or more at Nhs Lothian are mostly from United Kingdom (3).
Which centuries do the painters of Nhs Lothian belong to?
The 20th century leads with 10 artists born then. In this ranking, John Graham Gilbert (1794–1866) is the earliest born and Alison Mcgill (born 1974) the latest.
How many artists have works in Nhs Lothian?
Our catalogue lists 33 artists with at least one work at Nhs Lothian, 16 of them with two or more, born between 1794 and 1974 in 1 countries.
The house
Nhs Lothian, Edinburgh, in a few lines
A Legacy of Care and Heritage in the Heart of Edinburgh
To wander through the spaces associated with this legacy is to experience a unique intersection where the rigorous demands of science meet the storied atmosphere of the United Kingdom’s historic landscapes.
The Architecture of Resilience and Innovation
The essence of this institution lies in its ability to blend the functional with the monumental. The architecture surrounding its various sites reflects the layered history of Edinburgh itself, ranging from the sturdy, pragmatic structures of the industrial era to more contemporary designs that prioritize light, openness, and human connection. For those who appreciate the aesthetic appeal of heritage integrated with innovation, there is a quiet beauty found in the way these spaces have been adapted over decades to meet the changing needs of a growing population. The halls carry an atmosphere of resilience, much like the grand galleries of the city’s most famous landmarks, where every corridor tells a story of service, progress, and the relentless pursuit of human well-being.
The famous originals of Nhs LothianNhs Lothian: the full page, 86 originalsThe museums of Edinburgh
How the masters of the originals are ranked
The masters with two originals or more of Nhs Lothian in our catalogue are ranked by fame: the Wikipedia language editions that describe them, the visits to their OriginalUniqueArt.com page and our studio's ranking. Originals are counted in our catalogue — one entry per work, without details, studies or copies — not in the museum's inventory. Every date, birthplace and movement is the catalogue's; the notes are drawn from the master's biography.
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