Alexander Goudie (1933 - 2004) is widely acclaimed as having been one of Scotland's finest figurative painters. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art and taught there for many years before dedicating himself to his own studio work. As a portraitist his sitters included Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Lord, Billy Connolly and a host of other figures drawn from the worlds of politics, commerce and entertainment.

Edward J. Cowan was formerly Professor of Scottish History at the University of Glasgow and Director of the university's Dumfries Campus. He previously taught at the Universities of Edinburgh and Guelph, Ontario. A fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, he died in January 2022.