NORMA was born in Ayrshire in 1948. She grew up in the small town of Beith where she was educated at Spiers School. There her interest was in art rather than in the traditional academic subjects or sport.
After leaving secondary school, she attended Glasgow School of Art where she did a great deal of work in graphics. This undoubtedly helped her in her later painting career.
She graduated DA in 1970 and then had a variety of jobs, all of which ref lected to some extent her artistic interests: she worked as a graphic artist in the education department at Glasgow University; then became media resources officer for Renfrewshire. She also acted, on a freelance basis, as an illustrator for a variety of publishers, including Collins and Oxford University Press. Her art was one of the two great interests of her life and, from 1993 onwards, she painted professionally. She worked in both watercolour and oils and produced at least 500 paintings during the next 12 years.
She originally concentrated on watercolours, but then increasingly developed her skills in oils, painting both flowers and landscapes. She exhibited widely - more than 70 exhibitions in the past 12 years, in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, London and elsewhere; between January and August 2005, alone, there were no fewer than 11 exhibitions.
It is clear that the popularity of her work has been steadily growing; recently she was almost overwhelmed with commissions and it seems that she had not yet reached the limit of her skills.
She was always looking for new approaches and ideas. Norma's pictures have been described as fun and happy in their recreation of the beauties of nature. One of her paintings, a little vase of snowdrops, which gives an impression of delicacy and modesty, is a ref lection of Norma's own selfeffacing attitude towards her work - a modesty which always made her underestimate her considerable talents.
Her fellow professionals, such as Tom Shanks, took a very different view; they had no doubt about her abilities. Another study, of richly coloured pansies has, at the foot of the vase, plump, purplish cherries which look good enough to eat - indeed they exude luscious ripeness.
A larger work displays lilies reaching vigorously upwards against a blue background, a reminder of summer and all its delights. These paintings and many others are in private collections in Britain and abroad. Owners have commented on the warmth and good cheer in them; to own a Hansell is to be on a pathway to pleasure.
The other great interest in Norma's life was her family and friends. She had a gift for friendship which stemmed from her delightful personality. She had strong views about war, politics and society, especially where the lives of the less fortunate were concerned, but her opinions went with great generosity and sweetness of nature.
Her kindness and concern were very obvious when any of her numerous friends were unwell or in difficulties; Norma would always be on hand with affection, with comfort and with practical help. Hogmanay gatherings and other parties in the Hansell home in Kilmacolm were eagerly awaited events, always crowded, always notable for laughter and good cheer, with Norma as the happy hostess looking after everybody's needs.
Friends meant much to Norma and she to them, but her family meant most of all. She was close to her mother, Irene (her father died some years ago), and to her younger sister, Allison, and her family. Most of all, her devotion was centred on her husband, Professor Michael Hansell, a distinguished scientist, whom she met at Glasgow University and married in 1976, and their delightful son and daughter Chris and Lindsay, both graduates of Edinburgh.
The Hansell marriage was transparently happy - seeing Mike and Norma together was visual proof of that - and the character and academic achievements of their children brought both of them great pleasure and pride.
Norma's illness shocked everybody by its sudden onset and rapid progress. Two months before her death she seemed as well as usual, full of laughter and good cheer. After the discovery of a brain tumour she underwent an operation, but was eventually able to return from hospital to her home where she spent the last weeks of her life, receiving nursing care and surrounded by family and friends. Her death has left large gaps in the lives of many. Above all, it is to Mike, Chris and Lindsay that we offer heartfelt sympathy.
Norma Hansell, artist; born June 18, 1948, died November 14, 2005.
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