George M. Cowie

George Middlemass Cowie (1902-1982) worked as a freelance press photographer from the 1930s until 1982. His work covers all aspects of life in and around St Andrews and the East Neuk of Fife, and includes an outstanding collection of golfing photographs.

He was born in Edinburgh and was educated at White Kirk School in East Lothian. After considering gardening or following his father into a career in joinery, he began his apprenticeship in photography working with his future wife, Beatrice Govan (1903-1983), a partner in Day and Govan, professional photographers, in North Berwick, until 1929.

They moved to St Andrews after their marriage in 1930 and established their first shop at 69 Market Street. They moved into larger, more central premises at 131 South Street where the firm remained until it closed down in 1981.

In his early years in St Andrews Cowie was photographer in the area to most of the national dailies working closely with the local syndicate of reporters, particularly Alexander Brown Paterson. After the war the national papers built up their own staff of itinerant press photographers and this outlet for George's work became less important, although at the same time the local press began to make greater use of his talents.

Beatrice Cowie acted as darkroom technician, handling the processing and printing of the outdoor images George captured. William Fraser was employed as a photographer from 1951 to 1960 and Andrew Cowie was involved in the photography business before his untimely death from leukemia in 1980.

From the guide to the George M. Cowie photographic collection, 1930-1982, (University of St Andrews)