Avid Southport artist Malcolm Fryer, who was cared for by Queenscourt, spoke to two of the hospice’s medical students, Tara Desert and Natasha Goss, about his life as a painter.
What he revealed during their conversation was that with the care and support of Queenscourt, he had been able to maintain his creativity, even teaching one of his Queenscourt at Home nurses how to paint!
Malcolm, 84, was born in Manchester and spent his life and career as an artist – teaching in secondary schools, then as a lecturer at Blackpool School of Arts, before becoming Director of an art school based in Scotland.
He had two daughters, Katie and Juliet, whom he was very close to, and when diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, Malcolm returned to Southport to live with Katie.
Malcolm got to know the Queenscourt at Home Nurses really well, when he was first being supported by the hospice whilst living at home with Katie. During this time, Malcolm took the opportunity to teach one of the Queenscourt nurses how to paint, a skill she was keen to learn.
She said: “I was thrilled to be able to paint – I never thought I was an artistic person, but Malcolm helped me through and it brought him so much joy.”
Malcolm hoped that his paintings would be his legacy, stating: “I want my art to speak to folk.”
At the time of the interview, Malcolm was an In Patient on the ward at the hospice and described Queenscourt as ‘a wonderful place’.
He said: “People often feel hopeless before they arrive, but the hospice gives people hope and shows you that there is always something to hold on to.
“Getting to know the hospice staff has helped me through my time here – I’ve made some tremendous connections.
“My mother-in-law was also a patient at Queenscourt when it first opened. The positive experience I witnessed at the hospice, seeing the care and compassion she received right up until the end, made me more comfortable coming back as a patient myself.
“Along the way there is always hope – we’re all artists – all we need to be taught is how to see.”
Biography
Malcolm Fryer started painting at the age of 10. He went on to study at Blackburn and Lancaster Art Schools. During this time he was painting the landscape of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Moors. At 25 years old Malcolm’s first art exhibition, sponsored by Guinness, was a sell-out. He spent the 1970s in Arbroath, Scotland. Here he was appointed Warden of the Patrick Allen Frazer Art College.
Malcolm was drawn to the Scottish coastal landscapes, and a productive period of painting followed. Malcolm went on to sell works all over the UK and in the US and continually exhibited in galleries and universities nationwide. His artwork also appears in private collections at GranadaSky Television and Arthur Guinness Ltd.
Malcolm’s family kindly gifted one of his beautiful paintings to Queenscourt Hospice for all staff, volunteers , patients and visitors to enjoy.
To support the work of Queenscourt Hospice, please visit: www.queenscourt.org.uk
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