 William Scott was born in Britain on 15 February 1913, in Greenock, Scotland, to Scots-Irish parents, in 1924 his family moved with his mother, Agnes to Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, to join his father in his native town.His father was a housepainter and signwriter, and was killed in an accident in 1927 while trying to save lives in a local fire.William was educated at the Model School and attended night classes in art at the Technical School, taught by Kathleen Bridle.