2026 marks a century since Lyon & Turnbull began to sell the work of the Scottish Colourists, namely F. C. B. Cadell, J. D. Fergusson, G. L. Hunter and S. J. Peploe.* They are Scotland’s most celebrated artists of the twentieth-century and their brilliantly coloured paintings, inspired by progressive French art, thrilled collectors when they were created and continue to do so today.
Scottish Art
A Century of Selling the Scottish Colourists
9 March 2026
Alice Strang
An advertisement in The Scotsman of 10 March 1926 announced that Lyon & Turnbull Ltd, Auctioneers and Valuators then of 51 George Street, Edinburgh, would be offering a ‘Collection of Oil Paintings and Water-colours’ on ‘Saturday First, 13th March at One o’clock’ which formerly belonged to ‘the late David Brown, Esq., Willowbrae House, Edinburgh’.
Amongst the impressive array of Scottish artists whose works were to be presented to the market was Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell. He was in the company of fellow members of the Royal Scottish Academy including William Beattie Brown, Samuel Bough, John Lawton Wingate, Horatio McCulloch and George Paul Chalmers. Fellow members of the important Society of Eight exhibiting society, of which Cadell was a co-founder in 1912, also represented in the collection included Patrick William Adam and John Lavery. The pictures, accompanied by a catalogue, were available to view on ‘Friday First’.
One hundred years later we pride ourselves on the results we achieve for the Scottish Colourists, from dedicated private collections to individual masterpieces, from works on paper to paintings and sculpture. They are presented in our market-leading biannual auctions dedicated to Scottish art, which take place live in Edinburgh’s Georgian New Town and online.
Indeed, our saleroom is a short walk from Cadell, Fergusson and Peploe’s studios in the Scottish capital, whilst our Glasgow gallery is close to Hunter’s main studios in that city. Season after season we find that Scottish art sells best to the world from Scotland and we are delighted to see interest in the Scottish Colourists spreading internationally year on year.
Our commitment to the Scottish Colourists extends beyond the saleroom, not least showing highlight consignments in central London each Spring and Autumn. We marked the 150th anniversaries of Peploe and Fergusson’s births with exhibitions in London and Glasgow and will do so for Hunter in 2027. This year we are delighted to sponsor the exhibition The Scottish Colourists Revealed at Perth Art Gallery.
We are proud to have exceptional in-house expertise in the Scottish Colourists. Nick Curnow, Head of our Fine Art department, is the most experienced Specialist in Scottish art in any auction house. He has been selling the Scottish Colourists for over fifty years. Senior Specialist Alice Strang joined Lyon & Turnbull from the National Galleries of Scotland, where she curated the Scottish Colourist Series of exhibitions of the work of Cadell, Fergusson and Peploe and edited their accompanying publications.
2026 not only marks a century of Lyon & Turnbull selling the Scottish Colourists, but also sees the publication of Alice’s new book about them, commissioned by the National Galleries of Scotland. Based on new research, her book examines the life and art of the four artists, as well as exploring the history of the group. It will be available from October 2026.
Works by the Scottish Colourists will next be offered in our 04 June 2026 Scottish Paintings & Sculpture auction. Highlights of the auction will be exhibited at The Mall Galleries in London from 28 April until Friday 01 May 2026.
*According to the British Newspaper Archive website accessed on 03 March 2026. Image used with permission from SWNS Ltd.
"Few artists have shaped Scottish collecting quite like the Colourists"
- Alice Strang, Senior Specialist
See More on Social
Past Exhibition
A Scottish Colourist at 150: John Duncan Fergusson
Join specialists Nick Curnow and Alice Strang as they discuss the life and works of the Scottish Colourist John Duncan Fergusson, marking the 150th anniversary of the artist's birth in 2024.
Past Exhibition
S.J. Peploe at 150 with Alice Strang
Join Associate Director, Alice Strang as she takes a closer look at the work and life of the Scottish Colourist S. J. Peploe in celebration of the 150th anniversary of his birth in 2021.
Our Scottish Art Department
Specialist
Nick Curnow
Vice Chairman, Head of Fine Art nick.curnow@lyonandturnbull.com 0131 557 8844
Specialist
Alice Strang
Associate Director, Senior Fine Art Specialist alice.strang@lyonandturnbull.com 0131 557 8844
Specialist
Carly Shearer
Head of Contemporary Art | Edinburgh carly.shearer@lyonandturnbull.com 0131 557 8844
Specialist
Simon Hucker
Associate Director, Senior Fine Art Specialist simon.hucker@lyonandturnbull.com 0207 930 9115
Specialist
Romey Clark
Associate Specialist, Fine Art romey.clark@lyonandturnbull.com 0131 557 8844
Our Team
Charlotte Cockburn
Sale Coordinator, Fine Art charlotte.cockburn@lyonandturnbull.com 0131 557 8844
Meet the Scottish Colourists
Artists
Samuel John Peploe
Scottish 1871 - 1935
Artists
John Duncan Fergusson
Scottish 1874-1961
Artists
George Leslie Hunter
Scottish 1877 – 1992
Artists
Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell
Scottish 1883 - 1937
"It has been fascinating to see the market for the Scottish Colourists go from strength to strength over the decades and interest in their work spread around the world. Lyon & Turnbull looks forward to a second century of championing them to collectors."
- Nick Curnow, Head of Fine Art