Alastair Morton (1910-1953) was a British abstract artist,
born in Carlisle, Cumberland, to which he eventually returned after some years in
Edinburgh. His family owned a textile firm, Morton Sundour, being based in Edinburgh and
Cumberland. Morton joined the firm
at the age of 21, having studied mathematics for a year at Edinburgh University and
briefly attended Oxford University. In 1928, his father, James Morton, founded Edinburgh
Weavers, to which Alastair was eventually appointed Artistic Director. This brought him
into contact with many contemporary artists who used the firm, notably Ben Nicholson and
Barbara Hepworth. From the mid-1930s, Morton began to work in a manner similar to the
Nicholsons, exhibiting in group shows. An exhibition of Morton's work focused on his
involvement with Edinburgh Weavers was held in 1978 at Scottish National Gallery of Modern
Art, which holds his work.
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