Maggie Hamilton

Hamilton was born in Glasgow and grew up in Helensburgh after her family moved there.^[1] Although she had no formal artistic training, Hamilton became associated with the Glasgow Boys through her elder brother, James Whitelaw Hamilton.^[2] In 1883, while staying with her brother at Cockburnspath, where the Glasgow Boys were spending their summers, Hamilton was asked to help James Guthrie's mother with domestic work.^[1][2] Guthrie subsequently painted several portraits of Hamilton, most notably his 1892 diploma group portrait, Midsummer.^[1]

In 1897 Hamilton married the architect Alexander Nisbet Paterson, the younger brother of the artist James Paterson.^[3] The family home, The Long Croft was designed by Paterson and decorated by Hamilton in the Arts and Crafts style with figure and floral designs and embroideries.^[4] For some time Hamilton had been creating oil paintings of flowers but also began painting still-life compositions.^[4] In the late 1890s her Chinese silk embroideries were widely praised.^[1]

Throughout her career, Hamilton had over ninety works shown at the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts and over forty at the Royal Scottish Academy.^[1] She was a member of the Glasgow Society of Lady Artists and twice served three-year terms as its Vice President.^[2]

Hamilton and Paterson had two children together, including the artist Viola Paterson.^[3] In 1977 the Belgrave Gallery in London held a group exhibition of works by members of the Paterson family that included a large embroidery by Hamilton, one that she had worked on for five years.^[3] Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum holds examples of her work.^[1]