The Painters Colquhoun & McBryde (The Two Roberts), painted by Ian Fleming in 1938, captures the intimate and artistic partnership between two prominent British artists, Robert Colquhoun and Robert MacBryde.

Born in Glasgow in 1906, Ian Fleming was an accomplished painter but also a revered teacher at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) from 1931 to 1948. During his time at GSA, Fleming became acquainted with Colquhoun and MacBryde, whose creative and personal partnership would go on to define much of their work.

The two artists met in 1933 at GSA, and their relationship blossomed into both a romantic and artistic collaboration. Their shared studio became a crucible for their creative energy, which Fleming beautifully immortalized in this painting.

Learn more about about their journey and how to research LGBTQ+ stories in archives: “Archive Gaydar Part 1: Techniques for researching LGBTQIA+ history”.