Robert Brough was born on March 20, 1872 at Garty Cottage, Kilmuir Easter, near Invergordon. His mother was Helen Brough, formerly lady's maid to the Duchess of Hamilton; his father John Cameron, coachman to the Hamiltons. Brough was raised by maternal relatives on a farm on the outskirts of Aberdeen. Robert Brough was a pupil at Ruthrieston School in Aberdeen until 1884, leaving to become an apprentice engraver with Andrew Gibb & Co., Aberdeen until 1890/1891. Despite working long hours, Brough attended evening classes at Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen, from 1885. He then entered the Royal Scottish Academy and in the first year took the Stuart Prize for figure painting, the Chalmers Painting Bursary, and the Maclame-Walters Medal f...