Houston was a prolific landscape artist in both oil and watercolour. He had a lifelong passion for fishing, which influenced his choice of paintings grounds; Ayrshire, Argyll and Iona were his favourite locations. A contemporary of the Glasgow Boys, Houston evolved his own distinctive vision of the landscape of Scotland, invariably picturesque and tranquil. 

George Houston RSA RSW, 1869-1947

Born in Dalry, Ayrshire, Houston grew up in Saltcoats Ayrshire. As a printer's apprentice at the Glasgow Citizen group of newspapers he trained in etching and lithography, attending evening classes at Glasgow School of Art. He went on to produce line drawings and sketches for various newspapers in the group, and for a time also executed linoleum designs. In 1906 he left the Citizen to concentrate on his painting, which by then was earning him a growing income.