Dorothy McEwan (1925-2017), who died in December, was the founder of The McEwan Gallery in Scotland. She was not your typical art dealer – if such a one exists.
Shy head girl of one of Scotland’s finest schools, Dumfries Academy, unassuming daughter of the manse, university linguist, Bletchley-trained, quietly accomplished at everything she put her hand to, dedicated wife and mother – it wasn’t until her late 30s that she came into her own, businesswise, with the creation of The McEwan Gallery.
Strongly supported by her academic husband, Dr Peter McEwan (and, latterly, son Rhod who now runs the gallery), she was at its helm for over 40 years, establishing it as one of Scotland’s finest art galleries. Modest beginnings saw Dorothy open her first antique shop, The Snuff Box, in Braemar on Royal Deeside.