Alexander Nisbet Paterson was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 3 May 1862. He studied at Glasgow University, from where he graduated in 1882, and at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris in the atelier of Jean-Louis Pascal (1837-1920) from 1883 to 1886. He was then an improver with John Burnet (1814-1901), John James Burnet (1857-1938) and John Archibald Campbell (1857-1938) of Burnet, Son & Campbell from 1886 to 1889. He worked as an assistant to Robert William Edis (1839-1927) in 1890-91, and to Aston Webb (1849-1930) and Edward Ingress Bell (1837-1914). in 1891
Paterson qualified as an architect in 1889 and commenced independent practice in Glasgow in 1891. From 1903 to 1910 he was in partnership with Campbell Douglas (1828-1910) as Campbell Douglas & Paterson in Glasgow, and from 1919 to c.1936 with Donald McKay Stoddart (1875-1930) as A. N. Paterson & Stodart in Glasgow. Paterson was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1890, and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1910. He was also President of Glasgow Institute of Architects.
In addition to his work as an architect Paterson was also a painter. He exhibited at the Arlington Gallery, the New English Art Club, the Royal Academy, and Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in London; the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts; the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool; and at he Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Water Colours in Edinburgh. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy (ARSA) in 1911, and a full member of the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) in 1916. He died in Helensburgh,. Scotland on 10 July 1947
General offices and part Works, Messrs. Barr and Stroud, Ltd., Anniesland, Glasgow; general offices, Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., Scotstoun; banks for the National Bank of Scotland, St. Enoch Square (Glasgow), and at Gourock; extensions to Municipal Buildings, Helensburgh; Golfhill Public School, Dennistoun, Glasgow; St. Bride's and Clyde Street Schools, Helensburgh; school houses, the Edinburgh Academy, Edinburgh; restoration of Lesmahagow Parish Church, Lanarkshire, and Yarrow Parish Church, Selkirkshire. War memorials: — Douglas, Lanarkshire; Campbelltown, Argyllshire; the National Bank, Edinburgh; VIth H.L.I., Glasgow; Campsie Parish, Lennoxtown; Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire the Liberal Club, Glasgow; the Aquarium, National Zoological ark, Edinburgh; various residences in Cumberland, Dunbartonshire, and elsewhere. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1923]
For an additional list of architectural projects by Alexander Nisbet Paterson see the Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1660-1980
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Gray, A. Stuart. Edwardian architecture: a biographical dictionary. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd., 1985
‘Obituary’. Architect & Building News vol. 191, 25 July 1947 p. 66
‘Obituary’. Architect’s Journal vol. 106, 17 July 1947 p. 66
‘Obituary’. The Builder vol. 173, 18 July 1947 p. 75
‘Obituary’. RIBA Journal vol. 54, August 1947 p. 529