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Founded by Aitken Dott (1815-92) the son of Henry Dott, Mason in Tron Parish, Edinburgh and his spouse Jane Macomish in 1842 as a frame makers in premises at South St David Street, Edinburgh. In 1860 the business moved to 26 Castle Street where it remained until 1982 and a move to 94 George Street. The gallery space was named The Scottish Gallery in 1897 and a second, framing shop was opened at 78 Lady Lawson Street in 1907. A London Branch was opened in 1989 at 28 Cork Street with William Jackson moving from the Edinburgh branch to become Gallery Manager. In 1991 Jackson leaves the Company and buys the London Gallery. Aitken Dott Ltd became a private company in 1984. In 1987 it was renamed Aitken Dott (The Scottish Gallery) Ltd and in 1988 became a public limited company known as Aitken Dott Ltd The Scottish Gallery. In January 1993 it removed from 94 George Street to 16 Dundas Street, Edinburgh. The business was run by Aitken Dott throughout his lifetime, succeeded on his death by his youngest son Peter McOmish Dott (1856-1934) (and briefly his other son [John] Langair Dott (1854-1942) whose death certificate gives his occupation as a retired puicture restorer, when the business became Aitken Dott & Son. Following Peter Dott's death George Proudfoot (1873-1943)who had joined as a junior partner in 1908 took over the running of the business until his own death, his sister Beatrice taking over until her death in 1950. George Proudfoot's widow Annette [Marie Antoinette Proudfoot nee Richard (c.1904-96) whom he had married in 1933 then took up the reins, taking William J Macaulay (1912-75) as joint partner in 1952. On Macaulay's death in 1975 William C Jackson, who had joined as his assistant in 1968 became Managing Director. When Jackson left to take on the London office in 1989 Guy Peploe (b.1960) (son of Denis Peploe ARSA and grandson of Samuel John Peploe RSA) who had joined the business in 1983 became Director, assisted for many years by Robin McClure (1955-2022), son of David McClure RSA. Dott married (1)Jane McOmish, daughter of Patrick McOmish, Writer in St Cuthbert's Parish Church, Edinburgh on 1848-08-02 and (2)Graham Gilston at Carnock in Fife on 1857-11-29. She was the daughter of Rev William Gilston, the local Free Church Minister who had actually officiated at Dott's first marriage in Edinburgh. One of his daughters by his second wife Graham, Jessie Isabella Dott was born in Edinburgh 1863-04-23. She married a William Peddie at Musselburgh in 1891 and died in 1927. Her headstone in the form of an ornately carved Celtic Cross in Balgay Hill Cemetery, Dundee, is signed and dated "Phyllis M Bone, 1928" and Bone exhibited her design for it at the RSAAX in 1928