Cameron, (David Young) etcher, printmaker, watercolourist and painter, born in Glasgow. He trained at the Glasgow School of Art in the early 1880s before joining the Edinburgh School of Art in 1885. In 1887 George Stevenson, a friend of Seymour Haden, taught Cameron etching. In 1889 Cameron was elected an associate of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and he contributed regularly to the Society’s annual exhibitions until his resignation in 1902. During this period he published single prints as well as numerous series of etchings including the ‘Paisley’, ‘Clyde’, ‘North Holland’, ‘North Italian’, and ‘London’ sets and was quickly recognised as a leading force in the Scottish Etching Revival. As his career progressed Cameron accumulated numerous honours from many of the leading artistic institutions of the day: 1904 he became an A.R.S.A. and A.R.W.S; in 1906 an R.W.S; 1911 an A.R.A. (engraver); in 1911 an A.R.A. (painter); 1918 an R.S.A. and in 1920 an R.A.
After 1907 Cameron’s work showed a greater focus on Scottish landscape subjects and from 1908 to 1917 he moved from etching to painting. Around this time he largely stopped including figures in his compositions, apart from in his architectural studies. Around 1908 his work began to lighten in colour, prior to this Cameron’s work had been criticised for being too dark with a heavy use of brown tones. Visits to France and Italy in the 1920s seemed to have a further influence on his works and brought about a much brighter palette. By this time his works were receiving wide critical acclaim and he was well known both in the UK and abroad, his etchings were highly sought after. Cameron went on to be knighted in 1924 and was appointed King’s Painter and Limner in Scotland in 1933. Cameron died in Perth in September 1945.
Over his 45 year career as a printmaker, from 1887 to 1932, he had produced over 500 etchings and drypoints. His works can be found in museum collections worldwide including the Tate Gallery, British Museum, National Gallery of Scotland, National Gallery of Canada, and Art Institute of Chicago.
