One of the most celebrated British watercolourists of the 20th century, Russell Flint is known for his remarkable technical skill and precision.
Born in Edinburgh in 1880, Flint was first introduced to painting by his father before developing his skills at Banks and Co. Printers where he enrolled
in a six year apprenticeship as a lithographic draughtsman.
Although he is known for his watercolours he also painted in oil and tempera, and produced etchings.
​
Russell Flint became president of the Royal Academy, and also president of the Royal Watercolour Society for twenty years from 1936.
He was further recognised in 1947, with a knighthood for his services to art, and later a solo exhibition at the Royal Academy.
Painting in several countries including France, Italy, Switzerland and Scotland, Russell Flint was captivated by the distinctive and unique character of the distant lands.
However, his foremost fascination was the female form. This manifested in a wide range of depictions; spanning from flamenco dancers
to Russell Flint's picturesque gypsies and languorous nudes.
Today his work is exhibited in numerous institutions around the world including the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago.
 
Museums and Public Collections where the work of Sir William Russell Flint is held:
Buckingham Palace
Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen
The Admiralty, London
Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport
Belfast Art Gallery, Belfast
Bentley Art Gallery, Maidstone
Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, Birmingham
British Museum, London
Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY
Bury At Museum Bury
Cardiff Art Gallery, Cardiff
City Art Gallery, Bristol
Corporation Art Gallery, Oldham
Courtauld Institute of Art, London
Dundee Art Gallery, Dundee
Eton College, Windsor
Ferens Art Gallery, Kingston-Upon-Hull
Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield
Harris Museum, Preston, Lancashire
Harrogate Art Gallery, Harrogate
Hereford Art Gallery, Hereford
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN
Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg
Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow
Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight, Merseyside
Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds
Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent
National Art Gallery, Brisbane, Queensland
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Newport Museum and Art Gallery, Wales
Paisley Museum and Art Galleries, Paisley
Perth Art Gallery, Perth, Australia
Royal Academy of Arts, London
Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
Scottish Modern Arts Association, Edinburgh
Smart Museum of Art, Chicago, IL
Southampton City Art Gallery, Southampton
Sydney Art Gallery, New South Wales
Touchstones Rochdale, Manchester
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester
Winnipeg Art Gallery, Manitoba
Worthing Museum and Art Gallery, Worthing