WILLIAM SKEOCH CUMMING (SCOTTISH 1864 -1929), BLACK WATCH CROSSING THE VAAL RIVER (South Africa) watercolour, signed and dated 'W Skeoch Cumming 1903' 35cm x 59cm (13 3/4 x 23 1/4 inches) Mounted, framed and under glass Note: William Skeoch Cumming (28 December 1864 Edinburgh - 10 April 1929 Edinburgh), was a Scottish watercolourist, mainly of military subjects and Scottish Military History. William was the fourth son of John Cumming and Jane Skeoch, who was a cousin of Horatio McCulloch. William enjoyed sketching exercises with his father before studies at the Edinburgh School of Art and the Royal Scottish Academy School, and began his art career at the Theatre Royal as a scene painter. His sketches on Scottish life appeared in the Black & White magazine of 1896. He served with the 19th Company Imperial Yeomanry (previously the East Lothian and Berwickshire Imperial Yeomanry) in the Boer War, commanded by Sir James Percy Miller (1864-1906), whose equestrian portrait he painted. On 23 February 1900 his company and two others boarded the SS Carthaginian laying at anchor on the River Clyde, and arrived at Cape Town on 19 March 1900. From here they were sent to various camps before being dispatched to the front. His sketches recorded incidents during the campaign many of which he developed into watercolours after he returned to Scotland. More than 300 of his photographs are to be found at the Imperial War Museum. Cumming returned from South Africa having suffered no more than a bout of dysentery. Once home he joined the Scottish Horse. His work is held in several Public collections and numerous notable private collections. Although his work rarely appears at auction, recent results for Skeoch Cumming watercolours include £15000 (hammer) The Black Watch at Fontenoy, lot 11, Bonhams Edinburgh 12.09.13 and £9500 (hammer) The Gordon Highlanders: Daybreak In The Trenches, lot 46, Christie's Edinburgh 23.10.08.