By the river, Dalwhat Glen, Moniaive

James Paterson was born in Glasgow and worked for several years before visiting Paris to study art. He remained there until 1882, returning to the East coast of Scotland with W.Y. Macgregor (1855-1923) during the summer. Paterson loved the countryside around the village of Moniave which he first visited in 1879 and after his marriage in 1884 he settled there with his new wife.