Art in the east

This issue, Roddy Martine visits the Stenton Gallery in East Lothian

The small, picturesque village of Stenton lies in the heart of rural East Lothian on Scotland's south east coast. It is located four and a half miles from Dunbar, off the A1 and in 1969, this gem of a place gained the status of an Outstanding Conservation Area.

Once an agricultural settlement, the name Stenton means ‘stone town,' and weekly cattle and sheep markets were held here between 1681 and 1862. At one end of the main street is a surprisingly large gothic parish church designed by the architect William Burn in 1829, and, at the other end, the small but vibrant Stenton Gallery, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Admittedly, this is not where you might expect to find a top-of-the-range art gallery, but in such an unexpected rural setting, only a 35 minute drive from Edinburgh, it fits into the character of the place as if it were built for purpose. Aformer shop, then village pub, making use of the old school playground as a car park, its artistic evolution began as the Macaulay Gallery in 1980, showing works by the likes of Sir Robin Philipson and Elizabeth Blackadder.

However, in 1997, when its founder and owner, Angus Macaulay, decided to sell, Barbara Christie, an enthusiastic and knowledgeable Edinburgh-based art collector, rapidly stepped into the breach and relaunched it as the Stenton Gallery. “It had always been one of my favourite galleries,” she said. “I loved the location and it was a wonderful opportunity.” Ten years on, she feels e...

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• By : Roddy Martine
• In : Art and Antiques
• Issue : 34
• Page : 52
• Words : 467