The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Silversmith Graham Stewart
Graham Leishman Stewart , a silversmith born in Bridge of Allan, has died. Born in 1955, he was educated at Dollar Academy and Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen.
His earliest influence in the craft at which he was to excel was his father, William Morrice Stewart, an optical instrument maker who trained as a silversmith in later life.
Graham’ s shop and workshop on Dunblane High Street was a place to which lovers of fine quality silver and jewellery made their way from all over the world.
Both as a designer and craftsman, Mr Stewart commanded the respect of his peers and the many admirers of his work all over the world.
Hi s sculpture, The Honours of Scotland, sits in the Ma i n Ha l l of the Scottish Parliament, and he is responsible for the claret jugs which are part of the Millennium Collection for Bute House, the official residence of Scotland’s First Minister.
Yet, for all his undoubted success, and all the welldeserved plaudits, Mr Stewart remained a deeply humble and gentle man, who took as much care in helping someone visiting his shop to select just the right gift for Christmas or any other special occasion, as with the most prestigious commission.
Precious though their purchases from Mr Stewart may be, so also are the memories people have of their encounters with him as they made their choices or worked with him as he sketched a design, seemingly with such ease.
As well as creating many of his works on the premises, countless people have spoken of finding his shop a serene and restful place, suffused with something of the gentleness and warmth of the man whose name it has borne since he established it in 1978.
Much of Mr Stewart’s work has been inspired by poetry and Celtic spirituality, with its deep sense of God in the midst of creation.
Hi s deep love and knowledge of poetry flowed seamlessly into the magnificent calligraphy that adorned much of his work.
Nature was also a constant source of inspiration to him – an interesting seed-head, or a crocus bursting forth from the ground, seen when he and his wife Elizabeth were out walking their dogs, would be sketched by Mr Stewart on his return home before taking shape in silver in due course.
Mr Stewart had been a good friend to Dunblane Cathedral, with which he had a long association, faithfully dealing with any bashes and scrapes suffered by the cathedral’s communion silver over the years, or cleaning the intricate silver lantern that hangs above the font.
Although essentially a quiet and private person, Mr Stewart had been a good friend to many people in Dunblane and far beyond.
An outstanding artist and silversmith, as well as a good teacher of his craft, he retained, along with his deep sense of humility, a lovely capacity for wonder and appreciation.
Mr Stewart is survived by his wife Elizabeth, their children Thomas and Hannah and their spouses, his grandson Ivor, his mother Betty (who celebrated her 100 th birthday in September), his sister Wilma and his brother Iain.