Duncan MacGregor Whyte

Duncan MacGregor Whyte (3 May 1866 – 3 December 1953) was an early-mid 20th century Scottish painter specialising in portrait, landscape, and seascape painting.

Early life

Duncan MacGregor Whyte was born in Oban, Argyll in 1866, to Rev. Charles Whyte the Congregational Minister of Oban and Eliza Whyte (née Farquharson), the daughter of Archibald Farquharson, the Congregational Minister of Tiree.

Artist After schooling in Oban, he began his art studies in Glasgow. He continued his studies on the continent, firstly in Antwerp, Belgium under Van Havermaet and later at the Académie Delécluse, Paris under Delécluse, Caillot and Delance.

It was at the Académie Delécluse that he met his wife, the artist Mary Baylis Barnard.

On his return to Scotland, he built a reputation as a portrait artist.

Between 1911 and 1921 he travelled to Canada and Australia, working on portrait commissions.

During his stay in Australia, he became involved with the West Australian Society of Arts, acting as President from 1920 to 1921. Returning to Scotland in 1921, he made his base at Bealachan Ruighe in Oban and spent summers on Tiree.

In addition to portraits, Whyte produced landscapes and seascapes, often portraying daily life in Canada, Australia and Tiree. He exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy (13), The Royal Society of Artists in Watercolours (2), the Royal Glasgow Institute (50+), the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool (4). His work is represented in the collections of a number of galleries, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Known works Dugald McIsaac, Provost of Oban (1905–1908), Oban Municipal Buildings

Hugh MacGowan, Provost of Oban (1866–1953), Oban Municipal Buildings

The Artist's Son Bunty, The Shinty Boy, The Corran Halls, Oban

Stalla Hunisgeir, Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC)

Professor Thorpe Davie, The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

Malcolm Macleod, Museum nan Eilean

Cottars on 'The Land', University of Edinburgh

Harvesting Potatoes, Red Tam, University of Edinburgh

The Last Rays of Day, Library Headquarters, Dunoon

The beach at Perth, The Art Gallery of Western Australia