Ian Fleming attended Glasgow School of Art from 1924 to 1929 and taught there as well as at Hospitalfield in Arbroath, before becoming Principal at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, where he developed printmaking. He was close friends with William Wilson, an Edinburgh School artist and friend and colleague of Gillies.
Scottish harbour scenes feature strongly in Fleming’s painting. When an artist is elected as a Royal Scottish Academician they are obliged to select a work to join the RSA Diploma Collection. It is no surprise that Fleming chose Morning Harbour as his Diploma submission.