25/8/05

Saving Bellany

As reported earlier here, the artist John Bellany had a close brush with death earlier this summer. Now, he has shown special gratitude to the doctors, nurses and members of the public who ensured his survival from a debilitating heart attack, by giving out several of his paintings and drawings. Early in July, a ceremony was held in the Mitchell Library, Glasgow. Carol Dunn, a nurse who was fortunately passing Bellany just at the fateful moment, received a new work. Sean Robinson, a teenager who helped at the scene and then visited Bellany in hospital soon after, gained an existing work. The City Council, the Royal College of Physicians and the Hilton Hotel (where Bellany's family members were put up) all received further paintings from a profoundly thankful Bellany.