Patrick William AdamRSA (1852–1929) was a Scottish artist. He was a joint founder of the artistic group theSociety of Eight. He is mainly remembered for his landscapes and interiors.
He was born on 12 October 1852 at 9 Brandon Street inEdinburgh's Second New Town the son of Patrick Adam a writer (lawyer) in Sang & Adam SSC, who had offices at 61 Great King Street.[1] He was educated atEdinburgh Academy and inLondon.[2][3]
He trained at theRoyal Scottish Academy from 1874, winning the Stewart Prize for Life Drawing in 1877. He studied underWilliam McTaggart andGeorge Paul Chalmers.[4]
He made study trips toParis,Rome,Venice (1894) andRussia. His work is in watercolours, pastels and (principally) oils.[5]
He was elected RSA in 1897. His main patron wasPatrick Ford of Westerdunes inNorth Berwick.[6]
In 1908 he moved to "Ardilea" a villa on Dirleton Road inNorth Berwick. In 1912 he founded the Society of Eight together withFrancis Cadell,Samuel Peploe,John Lavery,David Alison,James Cadenhead and others.[7] Cadell was greatly influenced by his interior paintings, mainly done in Ardilea.[5]
He died at home on 27 December 1929 and is buried with his wife inNorth Berwick Cemetery. His simple gravestone lies on the south wall near the south-east corner.
In 1890 he was married to Theodora Alice D'Olier, whom he met inFlorence.
Their daughter Bea married Lt Col W S Wingate Gray of theRoyal Horse Artillery.[6]
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