Dorothy Johnstone ARSA 1892-1980

Dorothy Johnstone, daughter of G. W. Johnstone, R.S.A., had a favourable chance of becoming an artist, but who could have predicted that when she was an art student she would have the exceptional beauty of a Leonardo, or a Luini, a rare and lovely type much admired by artists still—when she was an art student it was possible to get clothes of fine quality materials made to special order by the best shops and tailors—Dorothy, amongst a small number of other artists, took advantage of these possibilities and wore clothes individual in colour and design, outstandingly different to the uniformly conventional woman’s dress of the day—with her beauty, and unusual clothes she looked unmistakenly an artist—which gave pleasure to artists and friends.

A brilliant student at the Edinburgh College of Art—working under E. §. Lumsden in the Life-school, Dorothy won a Travelling Scholarship and went off to study and visit Italy—the earthly paradise for artists—then followed happy hardworking years— painting, teaching at College—these years enriched and enlivened by a Kirkcudbright connection.

There Jessie M. King had bought a fine old house in the High Street. It had a wynd or close stretching from the back of the house down to the river. This provided a small row of liveable studios tenanted by a happy band of young artists, some from Edinburgh, some from Glasgow. Kirkcudbright gave a friendly welcome to these young people accustomed as it was to a small colony of artists living in larger and more permanent houses.

Again, an Edinburgh influence and a Glasgow influence. All exhibited in Edinburgh and in Glasgow. After the War Dorothy married D. M. Sutherland—a fellow artist from her familiar Edinburgh circle—returned from the War. They worked in Edinburgh for some years exhibiting steadily work in the R.S.A., S.S.A. and other exhibitions.

A son and daughter—Ian and Anne, didn’t stop Dorothy painting but perhaps inclined her to specialise in portraits of children whom she painted with great sympathy. Sadly for us all, they moved to Aberdeen where D. M. later became Head of Gray’s School of Art.

Though sad to leave Edinburgh and their friends, they were happy in Aberdeen and made more friends and continued her dedicated life as artist’s wife and portrait painter. There was always contact with Edinburgh because of the R.S.A. Dorothy was made an associate member A.R.S.A. in 1962 and continued to attend R.S.A. Meetings.

If artists are a leaven in society, surely the Sutherland’s house at Cults was a source. Quiet and serene, a background for good pictures and furniture, every single object, domestic as well as ornamental, chosen for its suit- ability and good looks. A household like this sends out small ripples all around and many friends and contacts must regret the loss of Dorothy and her ardent life-long dedication to Art and its application to life and friendship.

RSA Obituary by Mrs Mary Sturrock. Transcribed from the 1980 RSA Annual Report