David Donaldson, a luminary of 20th-century Scottish art, emerged from the modest beginnings of working-class Lanarkshire to grace the pinnacles of British society with his portraiture. His education at the Glasgow School of Art (1932-1937) served as the foundation for a distinguished career that took him across the globe, propelled by the prestigious Haldane Travelling Scholarship.

Donaldson's talent was undeniable, earning him the Guthrie Award at the Royal Scottish Academy's annual exhibition in 1941 and later, a permanent lecturing position at the Glasgow School of Art in 1944. His commitment to art education culminated in his appointment as Head of Drawing and Painting at the Glasgow School of Art in 1967. A testament to his skill and influence, Donaldson was honoured with memberships in the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, along with honorary degrees from the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow.

His commission to paint Her Majesty the Queen in 1966 was a career highlight, leading to his role as Her Majesty’s Painter and Limner in Scotland—a title he held with distinction from 1977 until his passing in 1996. Donaldson's portfolio spans not only royal and notable figures, including Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, but also intimate portraits of his family, revealing his versatility and deep humanity. Renowned for his direct approach and absence of preparatory sketches, Donaldson's artistry is marked by a blend of imagination and the tactile joy of painting.

Donaldson's legacy, celebrated in a retrospective at the Talbot Rice Gallery on his 80th birthday, continues to shine through the vast array of public and private collections that feature his work, serving as a shining example of Scottish art and portraiture.