Elected ARSA: 13 November 1839
John Sheriff was born in 1816 in Mearnskirk. He went to Glasgow as an apprentice copper-plate printer in 1830. Around 1832 Sheriff was asked to assist Horatio McCulloch with painting murals at St George's Place and from here, decided to become an artist. He moved to Edinburgh and devoted himself to art.
He became one of the youngest members of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1839.
