Teacher and painter, born in Dysart, Fifeshire. Studied at Kirkcaldy High School and Glasgow School of Art as well as on the continent. He became head of the drawing and painting school of Edinburgh College of Art, where he was nicknamed Bouff, being a gritty, strict traditionalist, an admirer of Raeburn, Velasquez, Ingres and Goya, but out of sympathy with modern art trends. His portraits of his many distinguished students were fine and he was elected RP and RSA. Showed widely in Scotland and abroad and is represented in many public collections. Lived in Edinburgh.