Main Fine Art was established in 1975 by the Scottish painter, I. Lesley Main, to promote the work of young, graduate painters and sculptors, primarily Scottish and working in Scotland. One-man and group exhibitions were held in numerous venues in the West of Scotland and attracted much interest.

In 1983, Lesley opened part of her studio, which became The Studio Gallery, in the West End of Glasgow as Main Fine Art's first permanent venue, and a programme of monthly, mainly one-man, shows was embarked upon, with great success. Many young painters had first or early exhibitions there, including Philip Braham, John Clark, Gwen Hardie, Peter Howson, Ian Hughes, Sandy Stoddart and Donald Urquhart, all of whom attracted much critical acclaim. The gallery exhibitions were supplemented by exchange and touring exhibitions in the United Kingdom and overseas, and by art fairs in London , Bath, York, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and America. Further studio space was acquired in the same building enabling a number of young graduate painters to continue their work and where classes were also given.

In 1988, Main Fine Art expanded to additional larger, more spacious and accessible premises nearby, The two Galleries continued to flourish, due to hard work by all those involved and the constant support of all the old and new friends of Main Fine Art, not least of whom was Clare Henry, art critic of The Glasgow Herald, who was of great encouragement to the young artists of Scotland for many years; as was John Fowler, Arts Editor of The Glasgow Herald, who wrote of Main Fine Art ,"one of the best small galleries in the country".

Over thirty years, Main Fine Art have built a solid reputation for exhibiting work of high quality to buyers, therefore helping to build collections of excellence, and non-buyers are also always most welcome!