 Upon his return to Edinburgh he became an annual contributor to the Exhibitions of the Royal Scottish Academy, and exhibited occasionally at the Royal Academy in London, where his works attracted much attention.In 1839 he was elected an associate, and in 1846 became full member, of the Royal Scottish Academy entitling him to the postnominals 'RSA' after his name.In 1847 he sent to the competition in Westminster Hall "The Parable of Forgiveness" for which he was awarded a premium of two hundred pounds.