A founding figure of the Glasgow Boys, William York Macgregor was instrumental in shaping the trajectory of modern Scottish painting in the late 19th century.
Born in Glasgow and trained in Paris under Carolus-Duran, Macgregor brought a rigorous sense of draughtsmanship and compositional structure to the group, marrying French academic discipline with a distinctly Scottish sensibility. Alongside James Paterson, he established the St Ives-style artist colony at Kirkcudbright, where he painted en plein air, capturing the clarity and atmosphere of the southern Scottish landscape with a tonal subtlety that became one of his hallmarks.
Macgregor’s early work was characterised by low horizons, muted palettes and expansive skies, evoking the moody lyricism of the Dumfriesshire countryside. Though less flamboyant than some of his contemporaries, his influence was widely felt. A respected teacher and mentor, he played a crucial role in developing the collective identity of the Glasgow Boys, encouraging a rejection of academic formalism in favour of realism, natural light and modern life. His paintings often possess a quiet confidence, grounded in a careful observation of nature and an economy of brushwork.
Elected a member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1898, Macgregor continued to exhibit regularly throughout his life. Today, his work is held in major public collections, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Scottish National Gallery, and is recognised for its foundational place in the story of Scottish art.
