Interviews of Alastair Dallas

This interview forms part of the Kirkcudbright Artists Remembered project. This project was active during the refurbishment of the Kirkcudbright Town hall into the Kirkcudbright Galleries centre and was undertaken as a partnership between the Kirckudbright Harbour Cottage Trust and the EERC.

In this interview, Alastair Dallas recalls his childhood and shares memories of his mother, Ann, and father, Alastair, who were both Kirkcudbright artists. Alastair explained that his parents initially chose the town because they could get a property there which suited their price. Both had studied at art school and Ann Dallas had also taught art. They were both part of the Kirkcudbright arts scene and supported artists by, for example, holding exhibitions and liaising with art dealers and buyers from further afield. As well as selling their own work, his parents sold art supplies and easels (which his father made) and produced lathe work, eg. Napkin rings which were bought and then decorated by Miles Johnston. Alastair’s father was a keen photographer and took a photo, in 1936 while working for McAlpine, of the Loch Ness monster which proved very popular.

Of the two, his mother was the more outgoing and she had many connections within the town and continues to be remembered fondly by those who knew her. The couple also made printed cards and images and there is quite a bit of discussion here about printing machines and techniques. Alastair recalled that they also sold envelopes of outlines which were used as colouring-in sheets for children, and an instruction lesson in how to paint a picture with 3 colours. Both also sold their work through Aitken Dott in Edinburgh. Alastair talks about his long interest in photography, which began around the age of 7, and said that he had recently been scanning his older photographs and sharing these on the internet via local interest sites.