IT has been hidden behind a wall in an old Glasgow department store for decades.

But a campaign is being launched to save a mural by the late artist Robert Stewart and put it back in the public eye.

The artwork is in what was the Argyle Street branch of furniture store Elders, which used to bring international style into homes throughout the west of Scotland.

The shop closed in 1979 and was replaced by What Everyone Wants, but has now been derelict for around 10 years.

Elders was owned by David Woolfson, whose youngest son Peter, 58, said: "A lot of older generations will remember coming into the department store and seeing the mural.

"It depicts all the countries in the world my father went to and was inspired by – Denmark, Germany and the Scandinavian countries. It would be great if a part of Elders could be saved."

Before his death in 1995, Mr Stewart designed textiles for top British firms, such as Liberty.

He was also commissioned to design tapestries for Glasgow Cathedral, Strathclyde University and for Prestwick Airport, as well as Elders.

Stage designer John Macfarlane, who is in Glasgow working with Scottish Opera, was taught by Mr Stewart at Glasgow School of Art when he attended from 1968 to 1970.

He called Mr Stewart an "extraordinary" teacher, adding: "My career wouldn't have been launched by anyone at Glasgow School of Art but him. When you look at the spread of his work it is extraordinary.

"He did storage jars and ceramics in the 50s and artwork for the Commonwealth Games. He was an amazing artist and an amazing man – that would be the reason why if there's any possibility, it should be saved."

Another of the late artist's former pupils Liz Munro, from Glasgow's West End, said: "Bob Stewart was a great designer, artist and educator. He had a huge curiosity and passion for design.

"He was a renaissance man who could turn his hand to many areas of design, textiles, graphics, ceramics, murals and tapestries.

"Bob was an inspiring educator and colleague.

"We must save this superb mural from destruction."

A spokesman from Glasgow City Council said at the moment no applications had been submitted for the building to be demolished after a proposed bid to knock it down to build a hotel fell through. It is currently in the hands of the administrator KPMG.

The story behind Elders department store can be found in the current edition of Homes and Interiors Scotland.

Ms Munro asks anyone who was interested in the campaign to email her at elizamunro@hotmail.com

rachel.loxton@ heraldandtimes.co.uk