Society of Scottish Artists

The Society was founded in 1891 and its professional membership consists mainly of artists based in Scotland. It held its first exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy Gallery, Edinburgh, then known as the Royal Institution. Its raison d'être according to its manifesto "… being formed with a view to holding an Annual Exhibition in Edinburgh, to give an inducement to the younger Artists to produce more important and original works by providing hanging space for such works. The opportunity has also been taken to obtain for the Society’s Exhibition examples of all Schools of Modern Art from distinguished living Artists…" Initially the more "extreme" SSA were at loggerheads with the more conservative RSA and it was not until 1902 after appeals to Queen Victoria and the House of Commons that the SSA obtained the use of the RSA galleries for their annual exhibitions.

Illustrious members include James Cadenhead, Stanley Cursiter, William McTaggart, Edward Gage, George Wyllie and Barbara Rae all of whom have acted as President. Others who have shown but not acted as President include Walton, Hornel and Scottish Colourists Cadell and Peploe as well as John Duncan and Charles Rennie Mackintosh to name but a few. Innovatively in 1931 the Society was the first to exhibit the work of Edvard Munch in the UK and he actually became an Honorary Member of the Society. In the 1930’s other invited "cutting edge" artists included Paul Klee Picasso, Matisse and Dali.