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| Mary Batchelor obituary | Mary Batchelor obituary |
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| My friend Mary Batchelor, who has died aged 73, was one of Scotland’s best- loved artists. Although she began painting professionally in later life, her commitment to the Scottish art scene was then immediate. | My friend Mary Batchelor, who has died aged 73, was one of Scotland’s best- loved artists. Although she began painting professionally in later life, her commitment to the Scottish art scene was then immediate. |
| She became an associate member and regular exhibitor with Visual Arts Scotland and the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, and artist member of Paisley Art Institute. She was also awarded the Mayfest MacRoberts prize in 1997 and the Mackintosh residency in Collioure, on France’s Mediterranean coast in 2011. | She became an associate member and regular exhibitor with Visual Arts Scotland and the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, and artist member of Paisley Art Institute. She was also awarded the Mayfest MacRoberts prize in 1997 and the Mackintosh residency in Collioure, on France’s Mediterranean coast in 2011. |
| Mary was born in Dumbarton to Jack Robertson, who ran a building company, and his wife, Rhoda (nee Nimmo). She was educated at St Bride’s school, Helensburgh, and later returned to the area with her own family. Mary’s love affair with painting began at school and she excelled in art, but she was channelled towards a different path, working variously as an au pair in Paris and a flight attendant for British United Airways. | Mary was born in Dumbarton to Jack Robertson, who ran a building company, and his wife, Rhoda (nee Nimmo). She was educated at St Bride’s school, Helensburgh, and later returned to the area with her own family. Mary’s love affair with painting began at school and she excelled in art, but she was channelled towards a different path, working variously as an au pair in Paris and a flight attendant for British United Airways. |
| In 1970 she married Chas Batchelor, whom she met in a local cafe, and the couple became proprietors of Kirklands hotel, Hawick, in the Scottish Borders. They had two children, Charles and Amy. Mary never lost her desire to study art and she began classes at Glasgow School of Art in the early 1990s, well into her middle age, under the tutelage of Norman Kirkham and Peter Howson, both of whom influenced and inspired her. | In 1970 she married Chas Batchelor, whom she met in a local cafe, and the couple became proprietors of Kirklands hotel, Hawick, in the Scottish Borders. They had two children, Charles and Amy. Mary never lost her desire to study art and she began classes at Glasgow School of Art in the early 1990s, well into her middle age, under the tutelage of Norman Kirkham and Peter Howson, both of whom influenced and inspired her. |
| Mary’s reputation soon grew and her work was much in demand, with invitations for solo or group shows – a particularly memorable exhibition saw her showing alongside John Bellany in Aberdeenshire. | Mary’s reputation soon grew and her work was much in demand, with invitations for solo or group shows – a particularly memorable exhibition saw her showing alongside John Bellany in Aberdeenshire. |
| Mary’s work is bold, bright and full of energy and vigour, and brought pleasure to gallery spaces and people’s homes across the UK and further afield – from London, Dublin, Munich and France, to the island of Islay. | Mary’s work is bold, bright and full of energy and vigour, and brought pleasure to gallery spaces and people’s homes across the UK and further afield – from London, Dublin, Munich and France, to the island of Islay. |
| She loved to travel and her journeys featured across her paintings. But the places she loved most were in her native Scotland, particularly the western Highlands and islands. In her own words, Mary said: “With my work I try to do justice to the land and sea which I see before me. It is Scotland’s ability to surprise which has always amazed me.” | She loved to travel and her journeys featured across her paintings. But the places she loved most were in her native Scotland, particularly the western Highlands and islands. In her own words, Mary said: “With my work I try to do justice to the land and sea which I see before me. It is Scotland’s ability to surprise which has always amazed me.” |
| She is survived by Chas, Charles and Amy, and two grandchildren, Jack and Theo. | She is survived by Chas, Charles and Amy, and two grandchildren, Jack and Theo. |
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