I've found the only obvious painter in Kirkwynd in the period that the Evanses were there. It could be that there is a link.
A David Reid, painter, was the occupier of a house on West side of KW in 1876,1877 and 1878, between George Scott and John Keddie.
In 1871, he was a boarder at Towkers Close and b, Hawick.
He's on the 1881 census at 3 Kirkwynd, married with 4 children (aged 1-8). Occ - painter (journeyman).
By 1891, he'd moved around the corner to Back Drove Road.
Gadget
added - George Evans doesn't appear in any of the available valuation Rolls 1876, 1877, 1878. Nothing for 1879, so could be he was sub-letting and/or his occupier status was not declared.