95-year-old blind artist uses memories to bring paintings to life

Despite being registered blind, 95-year-old Margaret McNeil has created over 350 pieces of artwork.

The former House of Fraser dress fitter relies on both her sense of touch and memories to bring her paintings to life.

Ms McNeil, who has lived at Bield’s in Glasglow for 26 years, is known for her rugged landscapes and animal portraits, with many of her finished pieces hanging in homes around the world.

“I’ve always painted,” she said. “When we used to go up north in a tent I had watercolours and oil paints and used to get the big stones from the beach, paint them all and give them to people as door stops. I never had any training.

“I remember when my husband George took ill and we had to come back home, and sadly he died. I was out a walk with my Labrador one night and a friend stopped her car and said she was picking me up tomorrow night and taking me to an arts and crafts class. Everyone was so nice, but I was so heartbroken that I never enjoyed myself.”

She added: “A note about evening classes came around but I couldn’t make the time. So, I went to tap dancing instead. I got talking to the leaders about art and they took me round to Duncan Brown - an art teacher at the town hall. Before I left I had been enrolled in Wednesday and Thursday art classes.”

Ms McNeil created around 221 big paintings until her sight deteriorated so much that she thought she would have to ‘give up’. “Duncan wouldn’t let me leave,” she revealed. “So I have learned to do it all by memory. It is hard, but I get there.”

When not creating strokes of genius, the grandmother-of-three spends most of her time baking.

Renowned locally for both her lemon and coffee and walnut cakes, many believe that she could give Mary Berry a run for her money.

She added: “I make around 20 cakes on a normal day, and another 12 for church on Sunday. The dentist and the doctor’s surgeries get one each every week, and one goes to the police department and the bank.

“It gives me a purpose in life. Why would you get up in the morning and think poor old me? With nothing to do until lunch time then tea time – that’s an empty life. It’s nice to know that you have given someone a wee bit of pleasure, and I have always said to have a friend you have to be one yourself.”

She continued: “I’m not talking about presents, I’m talking about time and interest. I just happen to like people. Maybe that’s why people refer to me as their ‘surrogate granny’. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Fife Court is one of Bield’s developments in Scotland. The registered charity has been providing high-quality housing and related services for older people for more than 40 years, allowing them to lead an independent lifestyle with help always on hand.