Adam Bruce Thomson: The Quiet Path

Opens Saturday 11 May

Adam Bruce Thomson (1885-1976) was one of the most quietly impactful artists of his generation. Born in Edinburgh, he was among the earliest intake of students to train at Edinburgh College of Art, following its establishment in 1908.

He went on to teach at the College for another forty years, supporting successive cohorts of young artists. In his own practice, Thomson worked across a range of media, mastering various printmaking techniques, drawing in pastels, and painting in oils and watercolours. His subject-matter was similarly diverse, spanning portraiture, still life, architecture and landscape themes.

Thomson exhibited widely and was well-respected by his peers, receiving an OBE in 1963. However, as a naturally modest individual, his understated approach often denied him the spotlight. To date, his contribution to twentieth-century Scottish art remains largely unexplored.

The forthcoming exhibition Adam Bruce Thomson: The Quiet Path aims to bring this talented artist back to public attention. Arranged over two floors of the City Art Centre, the display will chart Thomson’s extensive career, from his early student compositions to the evocative Scottish landscapes of his maturity. It will trace his stylistic development, and examine his important role as a teacher, mentor and friend to other artists. Featuring key artworks on loan from public and private collections, this will be the first ever major retrospective on Thomson to be held in a public gallery.

The exhibition is accompanied by the new book Adam Bruce Thomson: The Quiet Path (Sansom & Company), due for publication in spring 2024.