John Blair

1850 - 1934

John Blair was born in Berwickshire; died Edinburgh. Painter in oil but mostly watercolour, landscape, figures, topography, especially of the coast of Scotland and still life. Variable artist but highly prolific in his time and under demand in the mid-1870s. Strongly influenced by Hamilton Glass. Exhibited regularly RSA.

His work was colourful and proficient but occasionally outstanding; such works fetch five times or more at auction than his routine output. The colour became stronger in his later work, reminiscent of Hamilton Glass. Blair exhibited regularly from 1870 until 1920, including 83 works at the Royal Scottish Academy.