Allan Stewart was born on February 11th 1865 in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father was the postmaster at Leith. and educated at the edinburgh Institution. Allan Stewart studied art at the Royal Scottish Academy Schools. he was also went to Spain and France. Allan Stewart became known for his historical and military paintings and exhibited at the RSA at the Royla Academy, at Glasgow and Liverpool, His military paintings included To the memory of brave men: The last stand of Major Allan Wilson at the Shangani, 4 December, 1893, whihc was exhibited in 1896, The Mazoe relief, June 1896, an incident in the Matabele rebellion in 1899, and in the following year, The Charge of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman. Allan Stewart also painted contemporary battle scenes including The Charge of the Gordon Highlanders at Dargai painted in 1898 and he exhibited at the Fine Art Society. While Allan stewart lived in Edinburgh his painted the Rally of the greys, and had the chance to interview many of the Scots Greys veterans who had been present at the actions. one of whom lent the artist a rare shell jacket worn during the charge. Others provided him with photographs of some of the officers and copies of letters. When Stewart began work on his painting of Dargai, he was assisted by Lieut.-General W.H. Dick-Cunyingham VC. Not only did Allan Stewart produced these major historical paintings but he also illustrated many books including a number of book plates of the first world war also illustrated books on ceylon and British North Borneo. Stewart served on the staff of the Illustrated London News for a number of years and in this capacity, went to South Africa as a newspapers 'special' artist during the Boer During the,First World War He served as a captain in the Royal Engineers and for some time was attached to the Australian and American armed forces. Two ofAllan Stewart paintings of the Boer War are The Charge of the Scots Greys at Quenlin and The road back, Templeux-le-Guerard, 30 September 1918. He worked in England at Kenley, Surrey until lwitner of 1924 before moving to Dalry near Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright,Scotland where he lived in Rose Cottage until his death in January 29, 1951, aged 87