John Robertson Reid was born in Edinburgh and studied at the Royal Scottish Academy schools before moving to Cornwall and later London.

He became interested in the social-realist movement; probably influenced by Bastien-Lepage and in 1879 his “Toil and Pleasure” was hung in the Royal Academy and bought by the Chantrey Bequest. He continued to exhibit at the Royal Academy and at the Royal Society of British Artists and also the Royal Institute, he was a member of all three Institutes.

Reid’s subjects – field workers, humble people – were similar to those of Bastien-Lepage, but his handling of the paint was more dynamic and reflected his training at the Scottish Academy under Chalmers and McTaggart. He was also a good colourist, and some of his coastal scenes with fishermen and women in the foreground, have rich blues and greens, of which ours is a typical example. Reid was also a fine watercolourist in a breezy style similar to that of David Cox. Not all his work was about hard work he also painted rural people at rest or playing cricket and was always capable of brilliant work; his Venetian watercolours painted later in his life are a fine example.

Reid knew the Glasgow boys and he was influenced by their early work. He was an important Scottish artist whose work has been somewhat neglected over the years and has yet to reach the status he deserves.

He died in London in 1926. There are examples of his work in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Tate Gallery, many provincial galleries and other prominent collections.