Ian Fleming was born in Glasgow and studied drawing, painting and printmaking at Glasgow School of Art. After graduating, he worked with etcher Charles Murray, and then travelled on an art school scholarship to London, Paris and Spain.

In 1931 Fleming started teaching at Glasgow School of Art. During this time he met William Wilson, with whom he exchanged print-making ideas. He served in the police and army during the second world war and continued sketching and printmaking throughout. Notable are the prints he made of the Glasgow blitz. After the war Fleming taught again at Glasgow School of Art and at Hospital field, Arbroath. At this time he moved towards painting, rather than print-making, producing landscapes, harbours and portraits both in oil and watercolour.

Fleming’s work is characterised by the particular focus on composition which is evident in his work through all genres.  Often painting the local countryside or coastline, he would occasionally delve into a type of landscape painting which borders on abstraction.  Fleming was also a very talented portraitist.

Ian Fleming was a member of several exhibiting societies and became the Royal Scottish Academy’s longest established member.  Shortly after arriving in Aberdeen he played the key role in the revival of the Aberdeen Artists’ Society, which had lain moribund since 1939. Its annual exhibition has since flourished as a leading event in Aberdeen Art Gallery’s calendar.  After retiring in 1971 he became the enthusiastic Founder and Chairman of Artspace and Peacock Printmakers.

Fleming was principal of Gray’s School of Art between 1954 and 1971. He is definitely one of Scotland’s most important 20th century artists.