This week: a pioneering abstract artist, a legendary All Black, and a wrestler known as Luscious

THE painter Gillian Ayres, who has died aged 88, was one of Britain's pioneering abstract artists.

A student of London's Camberwell School of Art in the post-war period, she was attracted to Tachism - the French style of abstract expressionism - and created a large body of work that made her a leading light in the UK. As a young artist in the 1950s, she was friends with leading British abstract artists including Roger Hilton.

In the following decades, her style changed as she tapped into prevailing national moods or the work of other artists, but she remained committed to abstraction.

In October 2011 she received a CBE for her services to art.

The Turner Prize-nominated artist died at a hospital in north Devon, according to her representative, the Alan Cristea Gallery.

Mr Cristea, who worked with Ayres for more than 20 years, said Ayres had always pursued her own creative path.

"As a female abstract artist working in the UK, Gillian Ayres was way ahead of her time and the vast majority of her male counterparts but of course, for her, gender was an irrelevance," he said.

"She was an artist, pure and simple, and resisted all attempts to be classified as some kind of feminist, artistic beacon for younger generations.

"Certainly, there were comparisons to be made early on with American abstract art but she always pursued her own creative path."

Mr Cristea revealed they had staged seven exhibitions of her work and said every one was a "life-enhancing experience since her exuberance and her strength imbued all of us at the gallery".

He added: "I will treasure the memories of these exhibitions and of our frequent visits to her house and studio on the Devon/Cornwall border where we were always treated to lavish meals, large doses of champagne and riveting anecdotes delivered through clouds of cigarette smoke. She was a joy. I loved her to bits."

RUGBY player Fergie McCormick, who has died aged 78, was a former All Blacks full back known for his small but tough frame who played 28 times for the team between 1965 and 1971, including 16 tests.

A profile on the All Blacks website describes McCormick as a stockily-built pocket battleship who became celebrated for his fearless tackling. "He was also one of the first running fullbacks, possessing a startling turn of pace and successfully adapting his style when the restricted kicking into touch laws were introduced in the late 1960s."

McCormick made 222 appearances for Canterbury over 18 years from 1958 to 1975 and was part of the Canterbury team that beat the Lions in 1959.

His first chance with the All Blacks came in the fourth test against the Springboks in 1965. He was already 28 years old and was thought to be towards the end of his playing career, but he was chosen for the 1967 tour of Britain.

Paying tribute to his former colleague, ex-All Blacks prop Bill Bush said: "He was an icon. Ferg, to me, was a real inspiration. Although he was a fullback he was always right with us in the forward pack. Tough as teak all right, a real leader. I never saw him get hurt when I played with him. I don't think I ever saw him go down."

WRESTLER "Luscious" Johnny Valiant, who has died in a traffic accident aged 71, was a former professional wrestling champion also known as the manager of Hulk Hogan.

Valiant - whose real name was Thomas Sullivan - won the world tag team championships in 1974 with James Fanning as The Valiant Brothers.

He then partnered with "Gentleman" Jerry Valiant to win the world tag team championships in 1979.

After his career in wrestling, he went on to manage wrestlers such as Hogan and Brutus Beefcake. He also worked as an actor, appearing in television series including The Sopranos and Law and Order. He also appeared in the 2008 film The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke.