British painter, born in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire. During 1941-46 studied at the Edinburgh College of Art. In 1946, first one-person exhibition, Grant ’s Bookshop, Edinburg. 1950: Aspects of British Art, ICA, London. First exhibition in US, Catherine Viviano, New York. In 1971 worked as professional jazz musician and had his first record issued. Retrospectives include, 1971, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, 1972, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh (travelled to Brunswick, Karlsruhe). 1973-75 Member Tony Oxley group. In 1976, travelled to West Indies.1980 Lister Gallery, Perth, Australia. 1987 British Art of the 20th Century”, Royal Academy of Arts, London. Awarded Order of the Southern Cross, Brazil. In 1991, was elected member of the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol. 1993, Barbican Art Gallery, London. 1994 Awarded Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters, Faculty of Art and Design, Heriot-Watt University Lives in Hertfordshire and St. Lucia, West Indies.
