The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Alex’s tribute to legendary Groucho’s music store will aid charity at hammer time
Atribute to Dundee’s famous record store Groucho’s is set to raise funds for a cancer charity when it is sold at auction.
The painting by Alex Dewars, originally from Arbroath, shows the shopfront on the Nethergate.
The piece is part of this year’s Macmillan Art Show, which aims to raise thousands for the cancer charity. The exhibition is being displayed digitally in 2020 because of Covid.
There was heartbreak in Dundee earlier this year when the legendary music shop officially closed after decades of trading in the city.
Alex painted the store early last year and completed it just before hearing about the death of Groucho’ s owner and founder Alastair “Breeks” Brodie.
Alex, who studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, was a regular visitor to the shop when he lived in Dundee from 1999 to 2003.
He said: “I was in there at least weekly, sometimes daily. It was a great place.
“I was lucky that I had a part-time job while I was studying, so I could go to buy things.
“A lot of my friends from the time would go to Groucho’s to sell their collections to get money.
“I think a lot of people wouldn’t have made it to second year at university if it wasn’t for Groucho’s.
“It was sad to hear about the shop closing.”
Alex has lived in Edinburgh for about 12 years. He has contributed paintings for the annual Macmillan Art Show for the last few years.
He added: “I have been to the show’s opening in previous years and it’s a great event. It’s a shame it’s only digital this year, but so many things have been.
“It’s all for a good cause, so I hope a decent amount of money is raised.”
The 39-year-old has painted a series of shopfronts and buildings in Edinburgh, but the Groucho’s depiction marks his first foray into Dundee.
“Groucho’s was literally the first thing I thought of when I decided to do a Dundee one,” said Alex.
“I do about one or two of the building paintings a year, and I will probably do other ones in Dundee and the surrounding areas.”
Alex’ s other work includes portraiture and figurative paintings.
He is no stranger to the art scene in Dundee and has had previous works exhibited in the nowdefunct Or char Gallery, which was on Commercial Street.
More than 180 pieces of art will feature at the Macmillan show this year with an estimated combined value of £67,000. At least half of the cash raised will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.
To see the show, visit jumb lebee .co .uk/ edinburgh macmillan artshow2020