Sir William Gillies and Sir Robin Philipson emerged in the post war decades as key figures in the Scottish art scene. Both painters who were based at Edinburgh College of Art became associated with a group now known as the Edinburgh School which included artists Anne Redpath, William MacTaggart and John Maxwell. As colleagues and friends, the group’s work can be characterised by a use of vibrant colour, a free handling of paint and a predilection of working across both oil and watercolour mediums. Gillies and Philipson both enjoyed long and fruitful relationships with The Scottish Gallery, Gillies holding seven and Philipson holding nine exhibitions during their lifetimes. Their artworks continue to play an important role today on the secondary market as more people discover their genius.
