Background
He was born in Dalmellington, Ayrshire in 1824 the son of a Scots Guard who had fought at Waterloo.
He was born in Dalmellington, Ayrshire in 1824 the son of a Scots Guard who had fought at Waterloo.
He studied in Edinburgh and Paris.
Largely known for commissioned portraits, the works (which frequently appear at auction) are largely now “anonymous” in their subject matter as the sitters are not recorded on the paintings. He originally trained as a tailor. His fame as a portrait artist appears to have quickly spread from around 1845 onwards.
As a successful Victorian artist Crighton could afford a very large house, living at 40 Great King Street in Edinburgh’s Second New Town.
He left Edinburgh in the 1860s and moved to Sheffield. He sat on Sheffield Town Council 1869 to 1877 and lived and worked in that town for 30 years.
His work here includes portraits of many of Sheffield"s figures of note. He lived at 1 East Parade in Sheffield.
In 1881 he returned to Scotland, living at 6 Broomhill Terrace West, in Partick.