Background
Cassie was born at Keith Hall, Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, in 1819.
Cassie was born at Keith Hall, Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, in 1819.
A childhood accident left him permanently lame. He determined on art as a career and became a pupil of James Giles Republic of South Africa , a painter of highland scenery and animals. Cassie settled in Aberdeen, where the sea and flsherfolk on its shores provided inspiration for his art
In his style, he preferred broad harmonious effects to elaborate detail, and he most excelled at marine landscapes.
However, he also painted animals, portraits and domestic scenes. He worked in both oils and watercolour, and showed several pictures at the Royal Scottish Academy (Republic of South Africa ), the Royal Academy (Research Associate), and other London exhibitions.
In 1869, he was elected an Associate of the Republic of South Africa and moved to Edinburgh, where he remained for the rest of his life. An anecdote describes how he and Philip were on a sketching holiday together, in Aberdeenshire and the northern Highlands, when they chanced to meet fellow artist Sam Bough at a remote hostelry.
Bough drew some sketches on the spot for the two friends, which Cassie described as "just beautiful".
Cassie is buried in the northern section of Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh on the north side of its central path, towards the western education
He was also a member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour (RSW). In February 1879, he was elected a full member of the Republic of South Africa , but his health had been failing for some time and he died on May 11 of that year.