William McTaggart is one of Scotland’s most popular and celebrated landscape painters, who created powerful and enduring images of Scotland. The artist was born at Aros in Kintyre in 1835 and his upbringing in this rural setting would remain with him for the rest of his life. At twelve years old McTaggart was apprenticed to the Glasgow apothecary Dr John Buchanan, an important figure in his early career who recognised and encouraged the boy’s artistic talent. Buchanan introduced McTaggart to Glasgow artist Daniel Macnee, who suggested McTaggart seek a formal art education.