Obituary: Jack Firth, former artist and teacher, 93

Jack Firth, an artist and teacher whose work has been exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, has died, aged 93.

Born on May 21, 1917 in Edinburgh, John Beaton Firth - always known as Jack - studied at George Heriot's School before going on to study at Edinburgh College of Art from 1935 to 1939, where he was taught by William Gilles, John Maxwell and William MacTaggart.

During the Second World War he was commissioned in the Royal Artillery, and in 1943, while stationed at Plymouth, he met and married Chris Trotter. He spent the last year of the war in the Royal Army Education Corps, acting as an education officer in Germany.

After the War he returned to the Capital, and in 1946 he started teaching at Broughton High School. He later moved to Forrester High School, where he was made head of the art department. He was also a respected part-time lecturer at Edinburgh College of Art from 1955 to 1970.

In 1963, Mr Firth was appointed art adviser to Edinburgh Education Department of Lothian Region, and was instrumental in forming a fine collection of paintings for the local schools' collection.

Mr Firth was a gifted artist, who painted throughout his life, mostly in a traditional style, and had a fine way of capturing the coastlines of Scotland and the countryside of France.

His first exhibition was held in 1949 at Brown's the Book Shop in Edinburgh's George Street. Since then his work has been seen at the Royal Scottish Academy, the Scottish Gallery, the Torrance Gallery, the Open Eye Gallery, and he contributed to Scottish Artists in France, a travelling exhibition organised by the Scottish Arts Council in 1980. Retrospectives have been held at the Scottish Arts Club, and one is planned for early next year at Edinburgh's Open Eye Gallery.

Mr Firth was also an author and in 1979 published a well-received book entitled Scottish Watercolour Painting.

He lived in Edinburgh all his life, staying for the last 50 years at the same house in Corstorphine, and he was very involved in city life, serving as the resident artist at Edinburgh Zoo and, from 1950 to 1963, as a member of the Edinburgh Film Festival Council.

Guy Peploe, managing director of the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh, said: "Jack Firth was a fine watercolourist who perhaps sacrificed his own professional career as a painter to devote himself to other professional responsibilities and indeed the support and advocacy of many of his fellow professionals.

"Jack's paintings had a clarity and honesty which made him a master in the medium of watercolour."

Mrs Firth sadly died last year. Mr Firth is survived by their two daughters.