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"Mr. Mason Hunter was born at Broxburn, Linlitheowshire,

in 1854, and there and at Dr. Bege’s School,

Newington, he received his earlier education. As a boy

he attended the ornamental department of the Trustees’

School then under the direction of Mr. Morley, passing,

later, to the Antique as a pupil of Mr. Hodder. Hunter

commenced his professional Art life as a wood engraver,

at a time when the outlook for that department of the

profession was none too bright. and after a year or two

with an establishment prominent in the craft here, and

a further experience on the Graphic engraving staff.

London, the poor prospects ahead would doubtless

accentuate his rising inclinations to be a painter. To

this end, like most aspiring students of those days he

spent some time in Paris studying at the Académie

Colarossi, and transferring to canvas or notebook the

picturesque features of the city, or, further afield, those of

Fontainebleau and Barbizon. There he made the acquaint-

ance of a son of Jean Francois Millet, with whose name

and works the locality is indelibly associated.

It is somewhat difficult to follow the young painter’s

movements during those years, for all through Hunter

gives an Edinburgh address in the catalogues of the

Academy’s Exhibition to which he first contributed in

1879. But as the titles for the first two years suggest an

English origin, whilst from 1882 his subjects are mainly

Scottish, one may infer that the years 1878-80 cover the

time he spent on the Graphic staff and in Paris. “On the

Seine, Notre Dame,” and “ Chailly Church, near Barbizon,”

water colours, were shown a year or two later, the first

named being purchased by the Association for the Promotion

of the Fine Arts in Scotland.

Shortly after his permanent return to Scotland a

yachting cruise on the Clyde and adjacent waters with

artist and lay friends attracted him to the illustration of

the Scottish seaboard, enlivened often by the introduction

of the herring fleet. Though by no means confining his

practice to this vein, such incidents as the departure or

return of the fishing boats of Loch Fyne or St. Monans

furnished him with subjects through a long period of

years, and by these he will be best remembered.

Technically his colour gamut was limited—of a silvery

grey which he handled with fine artistic effect on the

smooth or troubled waters of our eastern or western

shores.

Mr. Hunter, notwithstanding his shy and somewhat

reticent disposition, was a universal favourite amongst

his brother artists, whose social gatherings he much

frequented and enjoyed. For some years past he had

been in an enfeebled condition of health, and for more

than a year before his death he was incapacitated from

any serious work.

So far back as 1896 Mr. Hunter had been elected a

member of the Scottish Water Colour Society. and some

years earlier he had taken part in the formation of the

Society of Scottish Artists, of which he was Chairman

in 1907.

In 1913 Mr. Hunter was elected Associate of the

Academy. He died on 31st January." [RSA Annual Report, 1921, Notice X]

He served as President of the SSA from 1907-08 having been a member since [at least]1892 [if not an original founding member]