Born and educated in Scotland, Mairi Stewart studied Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art, tutored by Elizabeth Blackadder, Victoria Crowe and the late Robert Callender,  graduating in 1977. She obtained a Diploma in Secondary Teaching from Moray House College of Education and taught for many years, whilst continuing to develop and exhibit her work in mixed exhibitions in Scotland throughout this time.  She is now a professional artist, working full time from her Edinburgh studio and exhibiting regularly in Galleries throughout the UK.

The colourful still life paintings explore the association that selected objects have with memory and inspiration for the work comes from domestic environments. The work is not a literal portrayal and colour, shape and pattern are used to stir the essence of the memory and evoke a sense of contemplation. The flattened perspective of the upturned tabletop pays homage to Cubism, whilst the simplicity of the image, combined with a bold use of colour help to heighten the contemporary vision. By combining disparate objects and recollections, new sensations are generated within the work, allowing the viewer to develop their own narrative.