MacWhirter was born in Edinburgh where he studied at the Trustees Academy under Robert Scott Lauder and John Ballantyne. He spent long periods sketching and studying outdoors and exhibited his first picture at the Royal Scottish Academy when aged only 14. He was elected an associate member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1867 and shortly after moved to London where he established a reputation as a fine landscape artist. He travelled widely in Europe and America, the Alps being a great inspiration. He was greatly attracted to the Scottish landscape using strong colours and becoming preoccupied with silver birch trees for which he has become best known. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, Grosvenor Gallery and elsewhere. Works by MacWhirter are in many public collections including the Scottish National Gallery and the permanent Collection of the Royal Academy of the Arts.
Exhibited: RA (126), RSA (118), ROI (9) & GI (50+).
