Largely self-taught, the artist was born in Blairgowrie and lived in Perthshire until 1872 when he moved to Edinburgh. He first exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy (1868), then between 1877-1904 showed 39 paintings at the RA in London.

In 1895 he moved to Sennen Cove, Cornwall, and subsequently Penzance.  His final known exhibiting address was Penzance, although he made regular visits home to Scotland. His subject matter was the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, moors and rivers, but he also painted Dutch and English landscapes. Christopher Wood comments on his interest in atmospherics, and compares his tonal palette to that of the early Corot.