Dobson opens bank’s eye to investment

ONE of Edinburgh’s best-known art galleries has changed hands in a deal backed by Clydesdale Bank.

Jilly Dobson has bought the Open Eye Gallery – which stocks works by artists including John Bellany, John Byrne and Barbara Rae – from Tom and Pat Wilson, who are retiring.

Dobson worked at the gallery for 13 years up until 2006, when she left to set up Easel, an exhibition company based in East Lothian that mounts pop-up shows at ­venues including Gosford House. Her return to the ­gallery has been supported by a six-figure loan from the bank, which is understood to have made up about three-quarters of the purchase price.

Dobson said: “It’s a dream come true to be running the gallery and it’s come at just the right time for me.

“I might consider using the expertise I developed at Easel to run an Open Eye satellite gallery in East Lothian but, for now, it’s business as usual.

“I’ve kept in touch with a lot of the artists from my time at the gallery and so we will be continuing to work with the same line-up of artists.”

Dobson’s purchase of the gallery will also secure five jobs, with all the current staff retaining their posts.

Billy MacLeod, Clydesdale Bank’s head of business development for the east of Scotland, said the bank was “proud” to have helped secure the gallery’s future.

“The Open Eye Gallery has established itself as one of Scotland’s best commercial art galleries, representing some of the most talented artists that the country has produced,” he said.