For painter Hamish MacDonald, working was a way of coping with his cancer. Right: four of his Beatson Drawings, including John, top left, a "Glasgow character" from the chemotherapy room.
The Herald Picture April 2008: James Galloway.
GLASGOW, Scotland (The Herald), September 17, 2008:
By Brian Donnelly
An artist who told how cancer had "opened new doors" on his life as he strived to cope with the disease has died, his family said yesterday.
Glasgow-born Hamish MacDonald died peacefully at the weekend aged 73, three days after finishing his last picture.
His wife Nadia said yesterday: "Hamish was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10 months ago and lived his final year the way he lived all his life, with passion and gusto.
"Over the past 10 months he painted over 100 pictures, had three exhibitions of new work, travelled extensively with his family and painted his last picture three days before he died."
His earlier work was inspired by Scottish Colourists including Joan Eardley and Sir William George Gillies, and he was a celebrated contemporary artist, with collectors of his work including the Duke of Edinburgh.
His subject matter ranged from fishing boats, landscapes and still lifes which reflected his travels around Scotland, England and further afield.
But it was 40 years into his artistic career that he found a new enthusiasm brought by adversity.
After being told he had incurable cancer he took a new artistic path, using different styles and materials to produce sometimes impressionistic and figurative pieces.
Shortly after diagnosis, Raymond, the eldest of his four children, and a professor of music psychology and improvisation at Glasgow Caledonian University, presented his father with a sketchpad and crayons, with the words: "Keep working, Dad."
STILL LIFE: Slide show
Mr MacDonald said of his time starting to draw again at the Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow: "I was a bit nervous about producing at first, but I asked my fellow patients if they minded.
"Some people sleep or read; my way is to work.."
He said while working: "All fear is gone - it's not a case of I'm here today, gone tomorrow, it's a case of I'm here today, gone today, so I can't put off making decisions. So there's an urgency, a drive and a freedom to the work which I find is good."
Murray Easton, of Maggie's, said last night: "Hamish and his wife were among the first people to sign up for The Herald Friends of Maggie's campaign and have been tremendous in raising awareness about our centre in Glasgow.
"Hamish was a fighter and remained creative until his dying day. The work he produced will live on, as will his memory."
Copyright © 2008 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited
September 17, 2008
U.K.: Hamish MacDonald, artist whose diagnosis ‘opened new doors’ dies, 73
.
For painter Hamish MacDonald, working was a way of coping with his cancer. Right: four of his Beatson Drawings, including John, top left, a "Glasgow character" from the chemotherapy room.
The Herald Picture April 2008: James Galloway.
GLASGOW, Scotland (The Herald), September 17, 2008:
By Brian Donnelly
An artist who told how cancer had "opened new doors" on his life as he strived to cope with the disease has died, his family said yesterday.
Glasgow-born Hamish MacDonald died peacefully at the weekend aged 73, three days after finishing his last picture.
His wife Nadia said yesterday: "Hamish was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10 months ago and lived his final year the way he lived all his life, with passion and gusto.
"Over the past 10 months he painted over 100 pictures, had three exhibitions of new work, travelled extensively with his family and painted his last picture three days before he died."
His earlier work was inspired by Scottish Colourists including Joan Eardley and Sir William George Gillies, and he was a celebrated contemporary artist, with collectors of his work including the Duke of Edinburgh.
His subject matter ranged from fishing boats, landscapes and still lifes which reflected his travels around Scotland, England and further afield.
But it was 40 years into his artistic career that he found a new enthusiasm brought by adversity.
After being told he had incurable cancer he took a new artistic path, using different styles and materials to produce sometimes impressionistic and figurative pieces.
Shortly after diagnosis, Raymond, the eldest of his four children, and a professor of music psychology and improvisation at Glasgow Caledonian University, presented his father with a sketchpad and crayons, with the words: "Keep working, Dad."
STILL LIFE: Slide show
Mr MacDonald said of his time starting to draw again at the Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow: "I was a bit nervous about producing at first, but I asked my fellow patients if they minded.
"Some people sleep or read; my way is to work.."
He said while working: "All fear is gone - it's not a case of I'm here today, gone tomorrow, it's a case of I'm here today, gone today, so I can't put off making decisions. So there's an urgency, a drive and a freedom to the work which I find is good."
Murray Easton, of Maggie's, said last night: "Hamish and his wife were among the first people to sign up for The Herald Friends of Maggie's campaign and have been tremendous in raising awareness about our centre in Glasgow.
"Hamish was a fighter and remained creative until his dying day. The work he produced will live on, as will his memory."
Copyright © 2008 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited
For painter Hamish MacDonald, working was a way of coping with his cancer. Right: four of his Beatson Drawings, including John, top left, a "Glasgow character" from the chemotherapy room.
The Herald Picture April 2008: James Galloway.
GLASGOW, Scotland (The Herald), September 17, 2008:
By Brian Donnelly
An artist who told how cancer had "opened new doors" on his life as he strived to cope with the disease has died, his family said yesterday.
Glasgow-born Hamish MacDonald died peacefully at the weekend aged 73, three days after finishing his last picture.
His wife Nadia said yesterday: "Hamish was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10 months ago and lived his final year the way he lived all his life, with passion and gusto.
"Over the past 10 months he painted over 100 pictures, had three exhibitions of new work, travelled extensively with his family and painted his last picture three days before he died."
His earlier work was inspired by Scottish Colourists including Joan Eardley and Sir William George Gillies, and he was a celebrated contemporary artist, with collectors of his work including the Duke of Edinburgh.
His subject matter ranged from fishing boats, landscapes and still lifes which reflected his travels around Scotland, England and further afield.
But it was 40 years into his artistic career that he found a new enthusiasm brought by adversity.
After being told he had incurable cancer he took a new artistic path, using different styles and materials to produce sometimes impressionistic and figurative pieces.
Shortly after diagnosis, Raymond, the eldest of his four children, and a professor of music psychology and improvisation at Glasgow Caledonian University, presented his father with a sketchpad and crayons, with the words: "Keep working, Dad."
STILL LIFE: Slide show
Mr MacDonald said of his time starting to draw again at the Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow: "I was a bit nervous about producing at first, but I asked my fellow patients if they minded.
"Some people sleep or read; my way is to work.."
He said while working: "All fear is gone - it's not a case of I'm here today, gone tomorrow, it's a case of I'm here today, gone today, so I can't put off making decisions. So there's an urgency, a drive and a freedom to the work which I find is good."
Murray Easton, of Maggie's, said last night: "Hamish and his wife were among the first people to sign up for The Herald Friends of Maggie's campaign and have been tremendous in raising awareness about our centre in Glasgow.
"Hamish was a fighter and remained creative until his dying day. The work he produced will live on, as will his memory."
Copyright © 2008 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited
