George Willison (1741–1797)

• Was a Scottish portrait-painter.
• He was a son of David Willison, an Edinburgh printer and publisher.

• In 1756 Willison was awarded a prize for a drawing of flowers by the Edinburgh Society for the Encouragement of the Arts and Sciences.

• His uncle George Dempster of Dunnichen sent him to Rome to study art.

• There from 1760 to 1767, he worked initially under Raphael Mengs. 

• On his return he settled in London.

• Between 1767 and 1777, he exhibited about 25 portraits at the Royal Academy.

• Willison went to India and painted portraits, including those of some Indian princes and their families.

• He returned to Edinburgh, having acquired a large fortune in jewels.
• There he continued to paint, and died in April 1797.

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