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.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture captures the span of an extraordinary life and career, told through the lens of the artist’s own eyes and the words of the people who knew him best.
READ MOREFeaturing examples of painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and photography, the exhibition at City Art Centre spans almost 400 years of artistic production.
READ MOREA major exhibition by Glasgow-born artist Michael Fullerton comes to the City Arts Centre!
READ MOREJoin Dr Helen Parker at Dovecot on 16th September as she offers an illustrated introduction to kabuki, a form of traditional Japanese drama!
READ MOREJoin boom saloon at Custom House to celebrate the launch of the finale of our work to rewrite the story of dementia in a publishing world first!
READ MOREWhat Might Have Been is an art exhibition by Susan Mitchell and Sharon Woods, catch it at Leith Makers from 17th to 28th September (Wed - Sun)!
READ MOREThe annual Edinburgh Art Fair, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, returns to Edinburgh Corn Exchange this September!
READ MOREStone, Bone & Linen is a group show from three well-known Scottish based artists showing at Dundas Street Gallery from 18th to 29th September!
READ MORERecurring Themes is a ceramics and glass exhibition which presents the intriguing and unexpected creative art works by Simon Ward and Keiko Mukaide.
READ MOREEmbark on a visual journey into the soul of Scotland through the lens of Sergio Romero at the Institut Français d’Écosse!
READ MORECreated in partnership with Eleanor Cunningham and Cyrenians, this special event at The Biscuit Factory on 23rd September, explores what it means to feel at home and grounded in a sense of belonging!
READ MOREBeneath: An Oak & Ember Exhibition, is a descent into the unseen, the buried, the hidden. Catch it at Whitespace Edinburgh!
READ MORE