Exhibition review: Rory McEwen: the botanical artist who influenced Van Morrison; Paul Delvaux: a show to savour for its unusualness

By all accounts, Rory McEwen (1932–82) was a remarkable man, hugely talented in several different disciplines (artist, musician, writer) and very much loved by his friends. Grey Gowrie calls him ‘a spectacular human being’ and writes: ‘Even now, 30 years after his death, he lights up the mind of everyone who knew him.’ Renowned as a botanical artist, McEwen was also an exceptional musician, specialising in blues and folk, whose mastery of the 12-string acoustic guitar rivalled the legendary Lead Belly. With his brother Alexander, Rory toured across the USA in 1956, becoming one of the first British acts to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show. Back in London, Rory became the resident singer on the Tonight programme, later hosting his own late-night TV show. In the 1960s he settled to art with a passion, but never limited himself to painting flowers. He also made abstract Perspex sculptures and worked with Joseph Beuys on a Scottish happening.