Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell 1883-1937

Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell, known as FCB Cadell, was one of the renowned Scottish Colourists and is especially celebrated for his radiant paintings of the island of Iona. Born in Edinburgh, Cadell studied in Paris and Munich, where he absorbed the modern ideas of European painting before returning to Scotland. His first visit to Iona in 1912 marked a turning point in his career. Captivated by the island’s white sands, turquoise seas, and distinctive light, he returned year after year, creating a series of paintings that remain among the most iconic images of Scottish art. These Iona works, with their sharp colour and refined compositions, reveal Cadell’s technical mastery and his ability to capture the essence of place.

Cadell’s practice was shaped by close friendships and by international influence. He often painted alongside his friend and fellow Colourist Samuel Peploe on Iona, their shared enthusiasm for the island producing a dialogue between their works. This connection reinforced the identity of the Scottish Colourists while situating them within the wider context of European modernism. Cadell’s use of colour and form shows a clear awareness of Cézanne, Matisse and other influential French painters. His Iona landscapes, while deeply rooted in Scotland, reflect this cosmopolitan sensibility, combining local beauty with the bold, simplified language of modern art.

Today, Cadell’s paintings of Iona hold enduring appeal for collectors, galleries and museums. Their luminous palette and modern clarity make them equally at home in private collections and contemporary interiors, where their freshness and balance of colour bring a timeless elegance. As part of the Scottish Colourists, Cadell stands alongside Peploe, Fergusson and Hunter, but his unique relationship with Iona sets him apart. His work bridges Scotland’s natural landscape with the innovations of twentieth-century European art, ensuring his reputation as one of the most important and desirable painters of his generation.