William Aikman: A Pioneer of British Watercolour William Aikman, born in Edinburgh in 1682 and tragically died in London in 1731, remains a pivotal yet often overlooked figure in the early development of British watercolour painting. His life was marked by both artistic innovation and personal hardship, shaping a body of work that continues to intrigue art historians today. Aikman’s career unfolded during a period of significant transition for the British arts scene, as artists began to move away from the dominance of oil paint and embrace the lighter, more immediate qualities of watercolour…