William Gillies was a very sociable character despite his natural shyness.
He was first nominated for election as an Associate Member of the Royal Scottish Academy (ARSA) in the early 1930s by no lesser a figure than Samuel John Peploe RSA. With the nomination seconded by Francis Campbell Beaulieu Cadell RSA, the form records their justification in his nomination; “the best of the young painters – should be encouraged.”
Gillies received further nominations from David Alison RSA (seconded by Henry Lintott RSA) and Robert Sivell (seconded by the sculptor Benno Schotz) before he was elected an Associate on 20 March 1940.
Over the next quarter century or so Gillies nominated the following; John Maxwell, Penelope Beaton, Robert H Westwater, Alberto Morrocco, Joan Eardley, Earl Haig, Charles Pulsford, John Houston, David Michie, Brenda Mark, David McClure, Alexander Campbell, and William Baillie. Of these only Brenda Mark was never elected.
Gillies also added his name as seconder to nomination forms for the following; R H Morton*, Ian Fleming, Dorothy Johnston, William Crosbie, Dorothy Peach*, Derek Clarke, James Cumming, Florence Jamieson*, Ann Henderson, Harry Wylie*, S Birnie Stewart, Elizabeth Blackadder, Peter Whiston, Alexander Goudie*, Anda Paterson*, Ralph Cowan*, James Morris and Robert Steedman. He also seconded subsequent nominations in support of John Maxwell, John Houston, David Michie and David McClure before their eventual successful elections. (Those marked with an asterisk were never elected.)
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About the author
Robin Rodger
Robin H. Rodger graduated as O. E. Saunders Prizeman in Art History from the University of St Andrews in 1983, before taking his Diploma in Art Gallery and Museum Studies at the University of Manchester in 1984. The next 26 years were spent at Perth Museum and Art Gallery, and since 2013 he has been Documentation Officer with the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture. A keen researcher, he has lectured and published widely on Perthshire artists and Perth silver, and is currently engaged in research projects relating to aspects of print and printmaking in Scotland.
