Andrew Paterson

Andrew Paterson (29 September 1877 – 15 December 1948) was an internationally renowned and multi-award-winning Scottish portrait photographer whose services were sought over several decades by many leading political and commercial figures. Life and career Andrew Paterson was born at 18 Shoe Lane in Merkinch, Inverness on 29 September 1877. His father, James Paterson, was a ship's captain in the merchant marine who drowned in the Moray Firth when Andrew was two years old. Paterson learned the art of taking photographs locally but gained further experience in Edinburgh before returning to Inverness, becoming apprenticed to photographers Emery & MacGillivray of Bridge Street. In 1897, at age 20, Andrew Paterson opened his own photographic business at 32 Church Street. Between 1900 and 1902 he was located at 3 New Market Entry, and in 1903 the studio moved to 15 Academy Street (later numbered as 19 Academy Street in 1905), where it would remain until 1980. Paterson had a fine conception of the art of photography, keeping himself up to date with its scientific progress; the specimens he produced won much praise at exhibitions not only in the Highlands and the south but also abroad, where he was awarded many distinctions. He built up a fine collection of photographic studies of people distinguished in literature, politics, theatre, science and industry. He was a frequent exhibitor at the Royal Photographic Society in London, and details of his entries can be found in the catalogue records of the annual exhibitions of the Society (1870-1915). By 1912, Paterson was also experimenting with moving film, producing one of the earliest cinematic films in Scotland. Mairi: The Romance of a Highland Maiden was a silent black and white film, which ran just over 17 minutes. It was first shown to the public in the Central Hall Picture House, Academy Street, Inverness, on 29 June 1913. Andrew Paterson was the founder of the Camerons' Comforts Fund during the First World War. It was on his initiative that the fund was set up, and personally undertook the task of packing parcels, night after night until the early hours of the morning, for the men serving in the different Battalions of The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. Paterson was heavily involved with the local amateur dramatic scene and under his management Rob Roy was produced at the Theatre Royal Inverness in 1915, by a company of over 50 performers.