Adam Bruce Thomson (1885-1976) was one of the most quietly impactful artists of his generation. Born in Edinburgh, he was among the earliest intake of students to train at Edinburgh College of Art, following its establishment in 1908. He went on to teach at the college for another 40 years, supporting successive cohorts of young artists. In his own practice, Thomson worked across a range of media, mastering printmaking techniques, drawing in pastels, and painting in oils and watercolours. His subject matter was similarly diverse, spanning portraiture, still life, architecture and landscape themes.

Thomson exhibited widely and was well-respected by his peers, receiving an OBE in 1963. Today, however, his contribution to 20th-century Scottish art remains largely unexplored.

Adam Bruce Thomson: The Quiet Path brings this talented artist back into the spotlight. Arranged over two floors of the City Art Centre, the exhibition charts Thomson’s extensive career, from his early student compositions to the evocative Scottish landscapes of his maturity. Featuring over 100 artworks from public and private collections, including loans from the National Galleries of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy, it is the first major retrospective on Thomson to be held in a public gallery.