Duncan Grant (1885-1978) was born at Rothiemurchus, Inverness-shire, the son of Major Bartle Grant and Ethel McNeill.
His childhood was spent in India.
He returned to Britain in 1893.
Although his family intended him to have an army career, he took up painting at the encouragement of the French painter Simon Bussy, entering the Westminster School of Art, London, in 1902.