Stuart was born in Glasgow in 1970. In 1992 he graduated from Glasgow School of Art, having studied Fine Art Drawing and Painting. He has been a professional artist since 1993. 

Stuart's paintings are representational, with figures set in richly textured, colourful ambiguous landscapes. "I like to think that the viewer does not need to know where the figures are nor what they ard doing, to relate to the personal moments that I seek to capture in my work". Stuart Buchanan, 2006.

In 1991 he won the Patrick Allan Fraser Scholarship, and in 1998 was the Artist in Residence at Hospitalfield House, Arbroath. More recently he was awarded the office of Artist in Residence of the Aberdeen City Council. Hence he has now left his native Glasgow and is living in Catterline - a fishing village on Scotland's east coast.
 
Stuart's work has been included in many shows both north and south of the border, as well as in exhibitions in T'blisi, Montrose and New York.

Selected solo exhibitions include:
2010  New Paintings - Wall Projects, Montrose
2009  Under the Moon - Modern Artists Gallery, Pangbourne, Berkshire
2006  New Paintings - Lena Boyle Fine Art at Ainscough Gallery, London
2005  Drift - Modern Artists Gallery, Pangbourne, Berkshire
         Desirous Without Landing - Mansfield Park Gallery, Glasgow
2001  New Paintings - The Judge's Chambers, Ingram Street, Glasgow