Artist Biography

Sam Bough
ARSA 1836, RSA 1875, RSW 1878
Born Carlisle, he was apprenticed to Thomas Allom the London engraver, but rebelled against the London discipline and returned to Carlisle on foot. He walked through the Lake District, and later the Borders, seeking out interesting views to sketch and enjoying the Bohemian life.

In 1845 he left Carlisle because of difficulties selling his watercolours and settled in Manchester working in the Theatre Royal as a scene painter. He continued to paint, mostly in watercolour, and 1847 won the Heywood silver medal for the best watercolour in the Manchester Exhibition.

In 1848 he settled in Glasgow and married the opera singer Isabella Taylor. While in Glasgow he worked at the Nw Princes Theatre, but also continued to paint. He met a number of artists in Glasgow including JOHN MILNE DONALD, ALEXANDER FRASER and THOMAS FAIRBAIRN and his reputation as a topographical and landscape painter grew in the 1850s.

Bough developed an interest in marine painting and after his move to Edinburgh spent time in the fishing villages of the Fife coast. He was at home with the fishing folk who came to recognise this extraordinary figure, often armed with a multi-coloured umbrella, painting breezy harbours with boats rocking in the swell. At other times he chose tranquil sunsets or moonlight scenes, or figures on a beach gathering seaweed. His skies are particularly effective.

He also worked both in oil and watercolour in the Lake District, Holland and Germany, but was most at home in Scotland.

Bough was the most important watercolourist of his period and influenced the development of Scottish watercolour painting towards a freer, plein-air style.

He was active in the establishment of the RSW and was the original Vice-President. Died Edinburgh.

(Taken from dictionary of Scottish Artists 1600-1960 by Paul Harris and Julian Halsby.)