Thomas McEwan (1864-1914)

Thomas "Tom" McEwan RSW (1846–1914) was a Scottish painter in oils and watercolour, of mainly domestic scenes. Born near Glasgow into a poor family with artistic inclinations, his father being an amateur artist and a friend of James Docherty (landscape painter). He was an apprentice to a pattern designer in Glasgow, but in 1863 he attended evening classes at the Glasgow School of Art under Robert Greenlees. During the 1860s he exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute and in 1872 embarked on a sketching holiday with James Docherty, working on Isla and Jura. Dutch influence can be seen in his work, especially that of Dutch painter Jozef Israëls. He used members of his family as models and was particularly fond of portraying grandparents and their children sewing and engaged in similar activities in the home and in open farmsteads, often with poultry in the foreground. The influence of Wilkie can occasionally be seen. He was a very good artist, and was for several years President of the Glasgow Art Club. He lived for many years at Rosevale, Helensburgh. He was elected member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour in 1883.