Elizabeth Blackadder DBE RA RSA

Elizabeth Blackadder DBE RA RSA, 1931-2021. Born in Falkirk, she studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 1949 until 1954. Her tutors were Robert Henderson Blyth and William Gillies and she was the recipient of travelling scholarships which enabled her to visit southern Europe and Italy. In 1956 she married artist John Houston and began teaching in Edinburgh. One of Scotland's greatest artists, she also enjoyed recognition and success in London. Elizabeth was perhaps best known for her detailed yet lyrical watercolours of flowers, 'table-top' compositions using Oriental objects and her beloved cats. Trips to Japan and Venice and a greater emphasis on oil can be seen in landscape and townscape pieces as well as important still life series using decorated tins and boxes arranged with exotic fish, fruit and vegetables.

Elizabeth was also an inspired and skillful maker of original prints.

In 2001, she was appointed Her Majesty's Painter and Limner in Scotland. She exhibited with Cyril Gerber Fine Art, Glasgow, for many years.