As a watercolourist Willie Wilson was very much of the Edinburgh School, showing affinities with Gillies and Redpath, both of whom were close friends, but, as in all he did, his style was very distinctive. In 1961 in his mid fifties, he lost his sight as a result of diabetes, and spent the last years of his life with his sister in Lancashire.

William Wilson OBE RSA RSW (British, 1905-1972) printmaker, watercolourist and stained glass artist, trained as an apprentice glass maker under Herbert Hendrie (Manchester, 1887 - 1946). After further training at The Royal College of Arts, he taught stained glass making at the Edinburgh College of Art, before setting up his own studio in 1937.

Celebrated works include his windows at Morningside North Parish Church, Edinburgh and St. Theresa's, Dumfries.