Erni Upton was born in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1936. He was educated at Ayr Grammar and Ayr Academy and went on to train at Glasgow School of Art.

Erni has been painting since childhood, a large part of which was spent with the fisherfolk of West Scotland and their boats. Much of his work reflects these early experiences and he returns to the coasts and waters of the mainland, islands and Hebrides each year.

In 1985, after many years in banking, Erni returned to Art and Design, by establishing a new interior design company in Shropshire. Alongside this, he continued to work in oils on canvas, mainly commissions for corporate and private clients. In 1999 the business was sold and full time painting became possible.

Erni's work is shown in many prestigious galleries in England & Scotland and features in solo exhibitions. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, London, in November 2004.