In the early years of the 20th century, four painters left behind a drab grey Presbyterian Scotland for the exciting avant-garde scene in Paris and changed Scottish painting forever.

Each of the Scottish colourists returned to Scotland bringing new approaches to art with them. Peploe experimented with Cezanne-like geometric forms, whereas Fergusson’s practice was heavily influenced by the fauves. Hunter experimented with simplified post-impressionist blocks of colour to create dynamic shapes, while Cadell often focused on bold shapes and stylish impressionistic compositions.