Born in Aberdeenshire, Aikman studied law at the University of Edinburgh. He took up a career as an artist and, by 1703, was painting portraits professionally in Edinburgh. He sold his family estate near Arbroath to enable him to travel unfettered to Europe to complete his artistic training. Aikman spent three years in Rome, before visiting Turkey and then spent a further period in Rome. He returned to Scotland in 1712, where he made the acquaintance of the poet Allan Ramsay and found an enthusiastic patron in John Campbell, the 2nd Duke of Argyll, who persuaded Aikman to move to London. He established a distinguished portrait practice in London, portraying royalty and many members of the aristocracy.
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