Patrick Adam

The grave of Patrick Adam RSA, North Berwick Cemetery

He was born on 12 October 1852 at 9 Brandon Street in Edinburgh's Second New Town the son of Patrick Adam a writer (lawyer) in Sang & Adam SSC, who had offices at 61 Great King Street.[1] He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and in London.[2][3]

He trained at the Royal Scottish Academy from 1874, winning the Stewart Prize for Life Drawing in 1877. He studied under William McTaggart and George Paul Chalmers.[4]

He made study trips to Paris, Rome, Venice (1894) and Russia. His work is in watercolours, pastels and (principally) oils.[5]

He was elected RSA in 1897. His main patron was Patrick Ford of Westerdunes in North Berwick.[6]

In 1908 he moved to "Ardilea" a villa on Dirleton Road in North Berwick. In 1912 he founded the Society of Eight together with Francis Cadell, Samuel Peploe, John Lavery, David Alison, James Cadenhead and others.[7] Cadell was greatly influenced by his interior paintings, mainly done in Ardilea.[5]

He died at home on 27 December 1929 and is buried with his wife in North Berwick Cemetery. His simple gravestone lies on the south wall near the south-east corner.

• Pont Neuf, Paris
• Interior, St Giles Cathedral
• John Miller Gray, first Curator of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
• The Breakfast Table (including a painting within a painting: John Lavery's portrait of his daughter Bea)

In 1890 he was married to Theodora Alice D'Olier, whom he met in Florence.

Their daughter Bea married Lt Col W S Wingate Gray of the Royal Horse Artillery.[6]