Portrait of a Lady in Black - F.C.B. Cadell - Framed art Print

Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell, a distinguished member of the Scottish Colourists, demonstrated his artistic prowess early in his Edinburgh upbringing. By age sixteen, he was studying at Paris' Académie Julian, immersing himself in the vibrant French art scene. He alternated between Edinburgh and Paris from 1902 to 1905, gradually kickstarting his professional career. In 1907, he joined Munich's Akademie der Bildenden Künste before hosting his debut solo exhibition in Edinburgh a year later.

In 1909, Cadell established a studio in George Street, Edinburgh's heart. That same year, he formed a lifelong friendship with S.J. Peploe and explored a bolder use of colour during a 1910 trip to Venice. By 1912, Cadell had visited the Hebridean island of Iona and would make it a yearly pilgrimage. His pre-war years were marked by social stature in Edinburgh and a signature palette of white, cream, black, and pops of bold colour.

Cadell's World War I years added another dimension to his artwork, evidenced by a remarkable series of military-themed drawings. Despite initially being declared unfit, Cadell persevered until he joined the 9th Battalion, The Royal Scots in 1915. His humorous yet evocative illustrations of army and navy life became well known, exhibiting his unique ability to capture a scene's essence with minimal lines. Post-war, Cadell continued to refine his style, focusing on tightly-cropped compositions and bold colours, particularly in his beloved landscapes of Iona. His contributions to British art were recognised with memberships in the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour and the Royal Scottish Academy.