John Houston was a Scottish painter and teacher.
Born in Buckhaven, Fife in 1930. As a boy Houston would ride horses at Musselburgh races and other meets for his father who sold horses. His talent for football was equal to that of his artistic promise, playing for Dundee United as a part-time professional before a knee injury ended his football career. He had started at Edinburgh College of Art whilst still playing football and studied under tutors including William George Gillies and Robin Philipson. This was a particularly optimistic and lively time for the college, with staff re-joining after the war and much social engagement between students of all year groups taking place. Among his fellow students were Alan Davie, David Michie and his future wife, Elizabeth Blackadder.
A lifelong love of travel began with a trip to Italy, alongside lifelong friend Michie after they graduated, before returning to Edinburgh to join the staff in 1955, where he would eventually become the deputy head of painting until his retirement. In this year he also married Blackadder, who was teaching at the college too; the couple were described by colleagues and students as inseparable. Houston cofounded the 57 Gallery in 1957 where his first solo show was held a year later. Throughout their life together Blackadder and Houston travelled widely and frequently with many trips throughout Europe, as well as Japan. In 1964, the artist won the prestigious Guthrie Award at the Royal Scottish Academy, sharing the prize with Michie.
Houston was invited to be artist in residence at the Prairie School, Wisconsin in 1969, where the vast landscapes alongside the exhibition of modern American art he saw in New York on the same trip influenced his later work, starting his series of 'sky pictures' upon returning to Scotland. He was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 1972, alongside Blackadder and was appointed OBE in 1990. His work was typically atmospheric, using rich, vivid colours and an Expressionistic style which was indebted to Edvard Munch, he was best known for his depictions of the East coast of Scotland particularly Bass Rock in Firth of Forth which one of his obituaries described as his personal emblem.
Houston received an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University, in 2004 and was granted a retrospective at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art a year later. He died in 2008 and was survived by Blackadder. His work can be found in the collections of the National Galleries of Scotland, Perth Art Gallery and the Government Art Collection.
