The term ‘Scottish Colourists’ refers to four painters, Francis Cadell , Samuel Peploe, J D Fergusson and, G L Hunter, Cadell and Peploe being the leading figures in this group.
They all lived many years in Paris and were influenced by the impressionism there. Each Scottish Colourist had his own set of specific goals and aims, but between them the four also shared much common ground. They were all born in Scotland in the to middle class families, and at various different times each visited France to experience the burgeoning avant-garde first hand, returning to Scotland brimming with new ideas. Influences came from Manet, the Impressionists, Cezanne, Matisse and the Fauves, with the Colourists exploring modulations of light, shade and atmospheric effects, often through painting en plein air.
From about 1912 until at least 1933 Cadell visited the island of Iona virtually every summer, where he produced luminous seascapes and landscapes. Iona had particular attractions for the artist; the ever-changing weather, azure seas and pristine beaches were the perfect subject for the simple lyrical landscapes, which enjoyed commercial success. In 1924, for example, Cadell sold twenty-two Iona pictures and over thirty in 1925 and 1926.
Peploe married Margaret MacKay in 1909, whom he had known since 1894.He also moved to Paris in 1910, a period which saw him concentrate increasingly on still life and landscape painting. His still-life works show the influence of Manet, with combinations of fluid brushwork, thick impasto and dark backgrounds with strong lighting. Returning to Scotland in 1912 he found that his usual dealer refused his work and he was obliged to stage his own exhibition. Peploe went on regular painting trips with friends to many parts of the country, and during the 1920s he spent several summers with Francis Cadell, another Scottish Colourist, painting in Iona.
Peploe was strongly influenced by French painting throughout his life. Although his work never became overly abstract, it was notable for its use of strong colour, tight composition, and meticulous execution. Influences are said to include, Cezanne, Matisse and Van Gogh. He died in Edinburgh in 1935.