An Islay Mystery

George Rhind from Bowmore sent me two images of paintings, both painted by David Forrester Wilson, and George is very curious to find out where the subject of the paintings is. Here is the email George sent me:

David Forrester Wilson, who was born in Glasgow in 1873, was an artist, taught at the Glasgow School of Art, was an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy and had a studio at what was formerly the Abbotsford Hotel, Bruichladdich, Islay. He died on Islay on 8th January 1950 and his pictures are in many important collections. His grandson has the original of the painting shown in the second picture and would like to establish where the subject of the painting is. He thought it might be Islay but it is not familiar to me. It may be one of the other West coast islands. Does anyone else recognise it?

Because D F Wilson had a studio on Islay and there are some Islay scenes amongst his paintings in various Scottish collections, his grandson assumed that these two pictures were of Islay locations. The reason I got the initial enquiry was that I am a member of the Islay Museum Committee and an ex-member of the Islay Family History Society, but no one I have spoken to so far recognises the locations - perhaps some of your subscribers might. The mystery deepens!

For what it's worth I had a good look at the pictures myself and I personally don't think either of them are from Islay, but probably from other parts of the Scottish west coast. If anyone of the readers think they recognize these scenes please get in touch with me, make a comment below or send an email directly to George Rhind. Thanks everyone for helping out here!

Tag: painting mystery