This painting illustrates a typical part of the Haddington landscape around 1949. The juxtaposition of eighteenth century cottages with larger nineteenth century buildings is a common feature of the urban landscape. The workers of a nearby mill probably once occupied the rig of cottages in the right of the painting.

This watercolour shows a street scene in Haddington during the late 1940s. A woman stands in the doorway of her house, chatting to another lady and her two small children. Both women are wearing aprons.

A keen amateur artist, Dorothea Nimmo Smith produced many paintings and sketches depicting scenes from everyday life in mid-20th century Haddington. During the 1970s, the East Lothian Antiquarian and Field Naturalists' Society mounted two exhibitions of Nimmo Smith's work. Many of her paintings were then entrusted to the care of East Lothian Council Museum service.