Hospitalfield House, in Arbroath, was owned by the Allan-Frasers, who left their estates and collections in trust to support artists and education in the arts. The particular Laird responsible was Patrick Allan-Fraser who had a passion for Art.

In 1902, Hospitalfield opened as a residential art school that became a post graduate school in the 1920s. The building became an important place of study for many early Scottish Modern Painters. There was a very strong relationship between Hospitalfield and the four main Scottish art schools, including the Glasgow School of Art. Many artists had an experience of Hospitalfield as either staff or a student including Joan Eardley, Peter Howson, Robert Colquhoun, and Robert MacBryde.