Tom Scott was born in Selkirk but relocated to Edinburgh at a young age to follow his ambition of becoming an artist. Despite travelling throughout the globe he remained loyal to the Borders region of Scotland and this, along with his interests in local history and archaeology, is reflected in his watercolours of rural landscapes and agricultural pastimes.

Newstead, just east of Melrose in the Scottish borders, is reputed to be the oldest continually-habited settlement in Scotland, with some of its former residents including Romans and also the stonemasons and architects of Melrose Abbey.