Robert Stewart

I was at Dunoon Burgh Hall this afternoon to present the prizes in a competition run by Olly's Wee Bothy for local primary schools in order to find a mascot for the charity.

I hadn't been in the Burgh Halls since the opening event for supporters and others earlier in the year and thus I hadn't seen the amazing Robert Stewart Mural which is now hanging in the entrance area.

It was originally made for Douglas Academy Berasden and what is now in the Burgh Hall is essentially the centre piece of that larger work which was dismantled some time ago and given into the care of Glasgow School of Art where Stewart was  Head of the Design Department and eventually Deputy Director.   His family and others wanted something to be seen locally in this great new location for the arts and its permanent exhibition in the refurbished Burgh Hall has been agreed. 

Stewart  lived in a lovely house with a studio above Loch Striven and his family is still around .   His design work  was widely seen over many years - for example he designed fabrics for Liberty amongst others thought he is much less well known than he should be.   There are two of his murals in situ in the area - one in Kilmodan Primary School where Cathleen was Head Teacher from 1992 to 1997 (and where Stewart's children went to school) and one in the cinema in Dunoon.   The best known of them is  at Prestwick Airport and this article gives some more information about him.