Famous People
Learn about notable figures from Paisley's past and present
64 articles
John Amabile
Based in Glasgow, John Amabile Design is a long-established Interior Design Company, with a proven and popular track record of’ Getting it right!
Jock McFadyen
Jock McFadyen was born in Paisley, Scotland in 1950. He attended the Chelsea School of Art where he graduated in 1977. His painting celebrates the decay and abuse of the urban environment, the grime and graffiti in chorus with the painted surface of his grand pictures.
Jim Dewar
The man whom many have called “The Pavarotti of rock ‘n’ roll” died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday 16 May 2002 after a long illness.
Steven Thomson
Steven attended Stanley Green High School 1977-1983 and is a resident of Glenburn, Paisley.
Lex Easdon
Jamie Clark nominated Lex for this page (thanks)
Heather Reid
“Heather the Weather” Reid was born in Paisley, and graduated from Edinburgh University with an honours degree in physics. She followed this with a master’s degree in image processing from Edinburgh University’s Meteorology Department. Between 1999 and 2001, Reid was Chairperson of the Institute of ...
Jenni Keenan Green
Jenni is an actress from Paisley who played the character Heather in the BBC1 soap River City.
Phyllis Logan
Date of birth (location)11 January 1956, Paisley, Scotland, UK
Fred Goodwin
Fred Goodwin was born in Paisley in 1958. He attended Paisley Grammar School before studying Law at Glasgow University and qualifying as a Scottish Chartered Accountant.He became a partner in accountancy firm Touche Ross in 1988 and a swift rise in his career followed. He headed the worldwide liquid...
Danny McAlindon
Nominated by one of our visitors to paisley.org.uk
John Byrne
John Byrne was born in Paisley in 1940 and brought up in Ferguslie Park housing scheme.
Robert Kelsey
Robert studied at Glasgow School of Art under David Donaldson and Paisley artist Alexander Goudie. After stepping down from a career in Art Education lasting 26 years Robert has been living and working as an artist in Paisley for the last 15 years. During that time he has built up a strong reputatio...
Alexander Goudie
Much sought after as a portraitist, Alexander Goudie painted, among many others; the Queen for the Caledonian Club, the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton and their children, the mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington and the comedian Billy Connolly.
Tom Conti
Thomas Antonio Conti was born in Paisley on 22nd November 1941, to a pair of hairdressers (Alfonso, his Italian immigrant father, and Mary McGoldrick, his Irish-Catholic mother). Tom began taking piano lessons at the tender age of four. According to “The London Observer”
Kari Corbett
Kari Corbett is an actress from Scotland, known for her roles in Monarch of the Glen, River City and Jeopardy.
Ian Hamilton (lawyer)
Ian was born in Paisley, Scotland on 13 September 1925, the son of a tailor. He attended the John Neilson Institution in Paisley before going on to the University of Glasgow to study Law, after having served in the British army
John Wilson
John Wilson was born in Paisley on 18 May 1785. His mother, Margaret Sym, was a descendant of James Graham, Marquis of Montrose; his father was a businessman who died in 1795, leaving Wilson a fortune. He was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he distinguished himself as a poet and athlete....
James Steel Maitland
If you’ve ever been to Paisley, chances are you have noticed the work of one of our best known architects, James Steel Maitland.
William Sharp
William Sharp was born in Paisley, near Glasgow, in 1855. His father was a successful merchant; his mother was the daughter of the Swedish Vice Consul in Glasgow.
Professor Thomas Money
Professor Emeritus University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC Canada.
Murray McLauchlan
Very popular in Canada, McLauchlan, Murray (Edward). Singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, harmonica player, born Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, 30 Jun 1948.
Sylvia Clark
Dr Clark was born on 1st April 1920 in London. She achieved a double first in English and Classics in 1941, then an MA in 1945.
Paul McGillion
(thanks to Doug for sending this in)
Other Famous from Paisley
Other People who should be mentioned as coming from Paisley according to members of the community