Jackson Simpson

Born into a large family, Henry went to Ferryhill Primary School, and then to Gordon’s College. He was lucky to come under the influence of his uncle, Alex (Sandy) Fraser, who was head of Gray’s School of Art, and young Henry spent many hours watching him in his studio at Newtonhill.

His etching career having been interrupted by the war, because the copper used in the plates was needed for munitions. Despite his delicate constitution, Jackson Simpson enlisted and fought in France in 1914, first in the artillery, then the Northumberland Fusiliers, and won the Military Cross for bravery When the war was over he joined the family framing business in Union Street, and studied at Gray’s School of Art.

Henry J Simpson painted all over the North-east. He loved the sporting life, and this gave him inspiration for his work; etchings of waterfowl, watercolours of his dogs, hunting parties at Crathes and Tarland, the fishermen on the river Dee.

Henry Jackson Simpson first exhibited his etchings and watercolours in Aberdeen in 1909. Until 1940 his art was regularly exhibited throughout Scotland at such venues as the Royal Scottish Academy. Around 1920, he began signing his etchings, ‘Jackson Simpson’, in order to avoid confusion with another Aberdeen etcher..

Jackson Simpson died in 1962