Discover the most Famous Scottish Female Artist

Margaret Gillies stands out compared to other famous Scottish female artists, born in 1803 she made up her mind to make a living on her own when she was very young. After her mother died when Margaret and her sister, Mary, went to live with their uncle, Lord Gillies, who educated both of them in Edinburgh.

Margaret was tutored in miniature-painting by Frederick Cruikshank and worked in Hendrik and Ary Scheffer’s Studio in Paris. Gillies commissions include miniature paintings of William Wordsworth, Anne Marsh, and Charles Dickens. After being elected to the Old Society of Painters in Water-colours in 1852. Margaret contributed to the exhibitions until she died.

The name Margaret is the anglicised version of the name, but there is always a history behind every person’s name. As one of the most successful, famous Scottish female artists, Margaret was blessed with a name that has several Scottish versions such as Maighread, Marsaili, Mairead, Maisie, Peigi, and Mysie. Many famous Scottish female artists were not so lucky with their names, ending up stuck with rather plain names like Ann, Mary, Lucy, and Emily, all rather dull compared to Margaret with its many Scottish facets.

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