George Washington Wilson and Company

Wilson served an apprenticeship as a carpenter, working in trade from 1835 to 1846, in 1846 he travelled to Edinburgh to gain an education in art. He then moved to London for further studies in 1849, returning to Aberdeen the same year to develop a career as a painter of miniatures.

He moved to premises on Crown Street in 1852 advertising himself as "artist and photographer". Prince Albert commissioned him in 1854 to record the building of the new Balmoral Castle, adopting the title "Under the Immediate Patronage of Her Majesty". In 1857 he published No. 1 of "Aberdeen Portraits" , one of the earliest uses of photomontage. In 1858 he took his first "instantaneous" photograph, expanded to larger premises at Glenburnie Distillery in 1861.

G. W. Wilson & Co. was formed in 1872 and granted royal warrant "By Special Appointment" in 1873. They expanded further to new premises in St Swithin Street in 1876 and by 1887 he entered into partnership with his sons, retiring in 1888 from business.

In 1893 G. W. Wilson & Co. Ltd formed.