Anna Winnifred Stuart Burnett Munro 1884-1978

In the contents that follow, the illustrations of my maternal grandmother's works are presented in an approximate chronological order. I and my siblings have inherited several of her drawings and paintings, and after obtaining the agreement of all parties, I use the initials of our first names to distinguish the corresponding collections.

Students on the stairway of the Edinburgh College of Art, circa 1905.
Anna Winnifred Stuart Burnett, or "Winnie," is the lowest of the four ladies standing on the steps against the wall.
The bearded man standing to the left is probably one of the architecture or art professors.

Although I have personal anecdotes of my Grandma “Winnie,” our family historian, Aunt Rosemary Mackenzie MBE, has already written a very fine biography of her mother for a 1998 exhibition at the Tain & District Museum. Therefore, after the agreement of my siblings, Rosemary's paper is entirely reproduced below. Please note that the illustrations and hyperlinks are not in the original text, and that I have added the latter in case they might be useful for those who wish to learn more:

“Mrs W J Munro

A family tradition

Anna Winifred Stuart Burnett (Winnie) was born in Edinburgh in 1883 [sic]. Her father, Thomas Stuart Burnett A.R.S.A., was an accomplished and prolific sculptor. He carried out a number of important public commissions in Scotland, including the statues of Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh, Rob Roy in Perth, Alexander Selkirk (Robinson Crusoe) at Largo, and General Gordon in Aberdeen, and the figures around the Scott monument in Edinburgh. Among his other work is, by chance, the monument to Kenneth Murray in Tain’s High Street.

Winnie also inherited a strong artistic tradition from the family of her mother, Margaret Irving. One of Winnie’s uncles, James Irving, was a painter, while another, Thomas, was a first-class violinist.

Thomas Stuart Burnett died of pneumonia in his thirties when Winnie was only five, tragically cutting short a career that had already produced great work. His early death meant that Winnie and her sisters Rose and Madge received an education that would fit them for careers of their own.

The three sisters attended Edinburgh Ladies’ College, after which Rose won a music scholarship and Madge became one of the youngest students at Edinburgh University. By the time of her death at the age of 107 she was the oldest graduate. Winnie herself went on to the Edinburgh College of Art in 1901, where her father had been a student twenty five years before.

Saint Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh
Watercolour, 22.5 x 17 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).
The pulpit was draped in black, in mourning for Queen Victoria. The year was therefore 1901.

Untitled (Bust of a woman)
Plaster bust, signed BURNETT, modelled at the Edinburgh College of Art circa 1908. Lost since.

College days

During her eight years at the Edinburgh College of Art, Winnie studied many branches of art including painting in oil and watercolour, etching, modelling, sculpture, architecture and design. She attended anatomy classes at the Royal Infirmary in order to understand the structure of the human body. Her marvellous eye for colour, evident in work produced throughout her life, was noted here. She was called in to resolve a dispute between two surgeons about the exact colour of a blood corpuscle.

Untitled (Young lady in Victorian dress)
Watercolour, 36 x 27 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

The Italian model
Watercolour, oval 35 x 27 cm, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (H).

[Our Aunt Rosemary Mackenzie told us that the Italian girl depicted above was a regular model at the Edinburgh College of Art, but that one evening she did not turn up for her usual sitting. Winnie, who was in charge of the evening life class, went to inquire if the girl was all right, but discovered that she had been kidnapped by a Turkish carpet salesman! The final fate, or eventual rescue of the Italian model is unknown.]

She excelled at life drawing, but despite this concentrated on landscapes and botanical subjects later in life. She exhibited regularly at the Royal Scottish Academy and was a member of the Scottish Society of Artists. There were several notable artists among her contemporaries at the College of Art. These included David Alison, who went on to become Head of the School of Drawing and Painting, D M Sutherland, who became Principal of Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen and married Dorothy Johnstone, another contemporary at Edinburgh who was a gifted artist in her own right, A R Sturrock, and Stanley Cursiter. The work of some of these outstanding artists can be seen in Winnie’s autograph books.

Station platform preparatory sketch
A sketchbook page, 11.25 x 17.25 cms, with pencil drawing unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).
Note the differences with the reversed printed paper image of the copper plate etching below:

Station platform
Copper plate etching, 12.75 x 16.75 cms, signed Winnie S Burnett and dated 1910. Private Collection (W).
This scene could be inspired by Waverley Station, with an added Mexican touch, just for the fun.

Coming to Tain

Winnie spent her last year at the College of Art as a student teacher. After some short placements elsewhere, she came to Tain at the end of 1911 to teach art and music at Tain Royal Academy. It was a coincidence that her father had done the Murray statue more than thirty years previously, but nevertheless she was met at the station by the Provost who escorted her to her lodgings in Lamington Street.

Her career at the Academy was fairly short. She soon met District Clerk W J Munro, the “Black Prince”, and they married in 1913. Winnie, or Mrs Munro as she was always known in Tain after her marriage, was succeeded as art teacher at the Academy by Janet Kennedy, who became a lifelong friend and with whom she undertook many painting expeditions.

"Jimsey" (James Stuart Burnett Munro 1915-1980)
Watercolour 34.5 x 26 cms (excluding frame), signed Winnifred Stuart Burnett and dated Nov. 1919. Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken through the glazing of the frame, with some reflection.

Although the years that followed were taken up with family life, Mrs Munro always painted, on one occasion using a bag of flour as an easel while making pudding! As the children grew older she was able to devote more time to her work, and held popular evening classes in painting and modelling, which were eventually moved out of the Academy because of the mess the students made with their plaster.

W J Munro died in the early 1930s, leaving Mrs Munro with three surviving children. She lived until the grand old age of 95 [sic] in 1978, and continued to paint all the while. As she got older and was less able to go out and about to paint landscapes, she concentrated more on beautifully coloured and detailed flower paintings. When the weather was too bad to go into the garden, she sewed and knitted.

Untitled (Roses 1)
Watercolour, 34 x 24 cms, signed A.W.S. Munro and dated Sept. 1973. Private Collection (W).

Mrs Munro was a great character, whose paintings can be seen in many houses in Tain, and she is always remembered with affection and respect by the people of the town.”

As my Aunt Rosemary's biography of my Grandma "Winnie" was written for the people of Tain who knew the family well, she did not need to go into much genealogical detail. But here it is probably useful to state that the three children of my Grandparents William John Munro (1867-1933) and Anna Winnifred Munro (née Stuart Burnett, 1884-1978, known as "Winnie") were my Uncle James Stuart Burnett Munro (1915-1980, known as "Jimsey"), my Aunt Margaret Rosemary Isabella Mackenzie (née Munro, 1917-2004), and my Mother Shelagh Winnifred Mary Mackenzie Walkington (née Munro, 1921-1994). There were also two other daughters, Dorothy Eleanor Irving Munro and Christobel Catherine Mackenzie Munro, but unfortunately they died in infancy.

Please note that in her 1998 paper my aunt calls my grandmother by her birth name Winifred, though in her later life Grandma adopted the spelling Winnifred (perhaps to have the same number of 'n's as in her nickname or artist name "Winnie"). In «The Dictionary of British Artists 1880-1940”, compiled by J. Johnson and A. Greutzner, the abbreviated entry for Miss Winnie Stuart Burnett reads as follows:

"BURNETT, Miss Winnie Stuart, Exh. 1908-12. 17 Luton [sic] Place, Edinburgh. † RSA 5."

The family home at Edinburgh used to be at 17 Lutton Place. After interpreting the Johnson and Greutzner abbreviations, the entry for Miss Winnie Stuart Burnett becomes:

"BURNETT, Miss Winnie Stuart exhibited between 1908 and 1912. Her address was recorded in the catalogues as 17 Luton [sic] Place, Edinburgh. Five works were exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy." 

During our family summer holidays in Scotland, Winnie took me “under her wing,” and taught me how to paint, occasionally in oil, but most of the time in watercolours, with subjects ranging from still life to plein air scenes. Winnie’s unfailing sense of humour, and her kind and useful tips, will remain an inspiration that I will never forget! 

William Walkington
(a grandson of Anna Winnifred Stuart Burnett Munro, affectionately known as "Winnie")

Sea Captain
Watercolour, 35 x 31 cms, signed Winnie S. Burnett and dated 1910 Feb. Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken though the glazing of the frame, with a reflection of the camera under the ear.

Young Farmer
Oil painting, 59 x 38 cms, unsigned and undated (circa 1909). Private Collection (W)
With a red 'D' at top right, this was Winnie Burnett's diploma piece at the Edinburgh College of Art.

Still life with stoneware jar and cloth
Watercolour, 33 x 24 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

Untitled (Young woman seated)
Pencil and monochrome wash, 33 x 29 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken though the glazing of the frame, with some detail lost.

Untitled (Woman's head)
Pencil drawing on paper from the Edinburgh College of Art, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

Untitled (Girl's head)
Pencil drawing on paper, 28 x 23 cms, signed W. S. Burnett and dated April 1909. Private Collection (W)

Untitled (Young woman lying on grass)
Watercolour, 14.5 x 20 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken through the glazing of the frame, with some detail lost.

Edinburgh Castle
Watercolour, 24 x 34 cms, signed Winnie S. Burnett and dated 19 05 1909. Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken through the glazing of the frame, with some detail lost.

West Barns, Dunbar
Watercolour, 24 x 34 cms, signed Winnie Stuart Burnett and dated 1910. Private Collection (H).

Pinned at the rear of the frame of the above painting, there is an interesting note written by our Aunt Rosemary Mackenzie M.B.E. (1917-2004):

"View in front of family house at West Barns Dunbar - done by AWS Munro - Madge* had a funny feeling about it as the Town Clerk of Dunbar drowned himself there and she remembers the cart taking the body past the house."

*"Madge," Margaret Irving Stuart Burnett M.A. (1887-1994), was the youngest of Winnie's two sisters and a teacher. Winnie's eldest sister, "Rose," Rosemary M. Stuart Burnett L.I.S.M. (1883-1971) was an excellent pianist and a music teacher. Both of Winnie's sisters now lie at Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh.

Cow milking at Dunbar
Watercolour, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (A).

Inside a stable
Watercolour, 23 x 19 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken through the glazing of the frame, with reflections and some detail lost.

Untitled (Back street)
Watercolour, 26 x 20 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken through the glazing of the frame, with some detail lost.

Untitled (Industrial landscape)
Watercolour, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

William John Munro OBE, 1867-1933
Pencil drawing on grease proof cooking paper (now crumpled) 30 x 25 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (F).

Shelagh Winnifred Mary Mackenzie Munro, 1921-1994
Oil on Winsor & Newton "Rathbone" canvas board, 40 x 30 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

Droitwich Spa
Watercolour, 23 x 16 cms, signed AWS Munro and dated Sept 1947. Private Collection (H).
This could be the River Salwarpe or the Droitwich Canal. It was painted during Winnie's holidays there.

Coag Croft and sheep, above the Balnagown River
Watercolour, 18 x 28 cms, signed W.S. Munro and dated 1946. Private Collection (W).

Railway bridge
Watercolour, 21 x 33 cms, signed AWS Munro and dated Sept 1947. Private Collection (H).
This is a standard stone construction for Scottish railway bridges. The location of this bridge is unknown.

View of Tain from the Golf Links
Watercolour, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

View of Tain from the river
Watercolour, 26 x 34.5 cms, signed A.S.B. Munro and undated. Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken through the glazing of the frame, with some detail lost.

The Dornoch Hills from Tain
Watercolour, 35 x 49 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (H).
The view is from a gate onto the beach at the Plaids. We know the title from two labels found behind the frame.
A first label by the Society of Scottish Artists shows that the artist was Mrs A.W.S. MUNRO D.A. and confirms painting's title.
A second label by the Glasgow Civic Art Association not only confirms the artist's name and the painting's title, but also states a price of £15 15/-.

The Balnagown River at Scotsburn, near Torran
Watercolour, 33 x 48 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken through the glazing of the frame, with some detail lost.

Untitled (Haystacks)
Watercolour, 24 x 33.5 cms, signed A.W.S. Munro and dated Aug ... (year behind frame). Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken through the glazing of the frame, with some colour and detail lost.

Dornoch Firth and Struie Hill
Watercolour, signed A.W.S. Munro and dated Sept. 1958. Private Collection (W).

Untitled (Highland Road)
Watercolour, 23 x 34 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken through the glazing of the frame, with reflections and some detail lost.

Untitled (Small island)
Watercolour, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

Rosemary's Croft, Greenwells, above Culrain
Watercolour, signed AWS Munro and date illegible. Private Collection (W).

The Kyle of Sutherland from Rosemary's Croft
Watercolour, 23 x 32 cms, signed Winifred Stuart Burnett and dated Aug 1945. Private Collection (H).

Untitled (Scotch broom and sheep)
Watercolour, 24.5 x 35 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

Balnagown Estate Farmyard
Watercolour, 23.75 x 33.5 cms, signed A.W.S. Munro and dated June ... (year hidden in frame). Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken through the glazing of the frame, with some reflections and detail lost.

Boats at Portmahomack
Watercolour, 25.5 x 35.5 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).
I was painting beside my Grandmother when she produced this, but it's probably just as well that I can't find my work!

Portmahomack
Wax crayon, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).
This is a totally different media to that normally used by Winnie. She must have preferred watercolours.

Shandwick Bay and Balintore
Watercolour, 21 x 26 cms, signed AWS Munro and dated July 1958. Private Collection (H).

Tolbooth Tower, Tain
Watercolour, 32 x 24 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (H).

William
Watercolour, 29 x 23 cms, unsigned and undated (circa 1954). Private Collection (W).
Photograph taken though the glazing of the frame, with some colour and detail lost.

Untitled (Rabbit)
Watercolour, 21.5 x 17 cms, signed AWSM and undated. Private Collection (W).

Untitled (Piglets)
Watercolour, 21.5 x 17 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

Untitled (Blue flowers)
Watercolour, 31.5 x 23 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

Untitled (Foxgloves)
Watercolour, 34 x 18 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

Blue irises
Watercolour, 34 x 24 cms, signed AWS Munro and dated June 1969. Private Collection (H).

Untitled (Roses 2)
Watercolour, 32 x 23 cms, signed A.W.S. Munro and dated Aug 1976. Private Collection (W).

White flowers
Watercolour, 25 x 37 cms, signed AWS Munro and dated Feb 72. Private Collection (H).

Red rhododendrons
Watercolour, signed AWS Munro and dated May 1976. Private Collection (W).

Still life with a bowl of roses
Oil painting on canvas, 33 x 43 cms, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (F).

Untitled (Beach towards sunset)
Watercolour, unsigned and undated. Private Collection (W).

Appendix

In the Saturday, 9th December 1950 edition of the North Star newspaper, the following article was published:

“ART EXHIBITION

Tain and District Arts Society is to be congratulated on the outstanding success of their latest experiment. This was the sponsoring of an exhibition held last week in the Community Centre to present to present to the public the paintings done this season by Mrs W. J. Munro and Miss Janet Kennedy.

There were over 30 pictures, mostly landscapes and flower pieces. Although the latter had many admirers, unquestionably what the public wanted was local sketches, and particularly if Tain itself were included. No doubt the jurist will detect an element of nostalgic lack of criticism in this preference, as nowadays many of our modern paintings are so difficult to comprehend that either we walk away from them on tip-toe feeling baffled, or else we wonder just what is wrong with us. But, there is great comfort in seeing a place we know and love painted in such a way that we know at once whether it is right or wrong according to our individual taste. That the public of Tain and Easter Ross approved of the interpretation of these two artists was abundantly clear by the way in which the paintings were so eagerly sought after.

In opening the exhibition, Mrs John Fletcher referred to the pride Tain felt in owning two such artists, who not only delighted all by their skill and talent, but were esteemed and loved by the whole community.”

Other Information or a Missing Painting?

Although every attempt has been made to be accurate, conflicting sources of information can sometimes lead to errors. Perhaps you will have useful information that will complete the picture (no pun intended), in which case I would very much like to hear from you.

Also, as my Grandma Winnie must have produced a great quantity of drawings and paintings during her lifetime, the examples shown above can only represent a small part of her production. Should you possess a drawing or painting that you cannot find here but you think should be on this page, please do not hesitate to contact me at william.walkington@wanadoo.fr.