A genius Uncle

Alasdair Gray lived almost all his life in Glasgow, while Kat and Tracy grew up in the South of England - so time together was limited to occasional visits.

But despite not seeing each other that often, Uncle Alasdair was a big part of our lives… and we always knew he was special.

A generous spirit

Although he rarely had much money, Uncle Alasdair’s presents were an exciting event – especially since his birthday presents would turn up at any time of the year except the date of the anniversary itself. Early gifts and cards were often second-hand or home-made and the letters that accompanied them were all carefully kept.

A drawing Alasdair made for Tracy using her own felt tip pens.

Alasdair’s letter recommends children's books he had recently read himself and apologises for not being punctual with presents.

Alasdair used the same felt pens to explain this visual joke, in a drawing for Katrina.

Alasdair always talked to us as equals - explaining his choice of books and presents and often selecting stories he’d enjoyed himself.

When his own work started to be published, Alasdair always sent a copy to each of us and invited us along to the book launches and any other interesting events - although our means of entry could be as unorthodox as Alasdair himself.

Alasdair continues a discussion about Renoir with Katrina, in his dedication to Lean Tales.

Alasdair's handwritten invitation the launch of Lanark, confirming that the bearers are ‘blood relatives.

Tracy’s copy of Alasdair’s autobiographical book A Life in Pictures, from her ‘show-off’ Uncle.

Powered by creativity

“I am obsessive: I find life miserable if I don’t do a certain amount of writing and / or painting because these activities make me feel I am working well for people. Even if nobody is there, I feel, when working, that I deserve to be loved, and can respect myself, even if nobody else does.”
— Alasdair Gray, letter to his sister

Alasdair was always powered by creativity. He was born in Glasgow in 1934 and lived there almost all his life, but his boundless creative energy made him a ‘citizen in the world’s Republic of Letters’ and pictures. And while Alasdair’s body stayed mostly in Scotland, his imagination roamed the world.

Church wall and ceiling covered in brilliant coloured paintings. The ceiling is deep blues and black with gold text on a black beam saying To The Glory Of Our Universe And. The wall has rainbows, landscapes and creatures around 3 arched windows.
Church wall and ceiling covered in brilliant coloured paintings. The ceiling is deep blues and black with gold text on a black beam saying To The Glory Of Our Universe And. The wall has rainbows, landscapes and creatures around 3 arched windows.

Oran Mor murals by Alasdair Gray and many helping hands (photo @MarkWildPhotography)

Drawing of strong naked woman holding aloft a white disc with a gold sun inside it. She's surrounded by a landscape with faces, buildings and a baby being born. Words inside an outline of an arrow say Lanark Alasdair Gray.
Drawing of strong naked woman holding aloft a white disc with a gold sun inside it. She's surrounded by a landscape with faces, buildings and a baby being born. Words inside an outline of an arrow say Lanark Alasdair Gray.

1st Edition cover of Lanark by Alasdair Gray

Gold text saying Work As If You Were Living In The Early Days Of A Better Nation on a blue background above a horizontal gold line and the tops of stylised gold thistles below.
Gold text saying Work As If You Were Living In The Early Days Of A Better Nation on a blue background above a horizontal gold line and the tops of stylised gold thistles below.

Alasdair’s most famous quote which he adapted from Dennis Lee and reused regularly

Imaginative escapism

“Most parents kill our infantile faith that we can have anything we want. Mum and Dad left me sure I could make anything I wanted in words and pictures.”
— Alasdair Gray, A Life in Pictures

Asthma and eczema were ongoing issues for Alasdair and he frequently found life difficult. Art and literature offered escape into ‘a wonderland, a place of exciting adventure’. And he continued to escape into imaginative worlds throughout his life.

Old black and white photo of a young white man, casually dressed in a sweater with short rumpled hair and neat beard and moustache. He's holding a drawing and sitting looking at us in front of a big white 3d painting of the Eiffel Tower.
Old black and white photo of a young white man, casually dressed in a sweater with short rumpled hair and neat beard and moustache. He's holding a drawing and sitting looking at us in front of a big white 3d painting of the Eiffel Tower.

A young Alasdair Gray at work in 1967

Part of a weird watercolour picture of big squatting devilish figure playing the bagpipes against a background of small open coffins with shrouded bodies, dead bodies below him and naked dancing women in the foreground.
Part of a weird watercolour picture of big squatting devilish figure playing the bagpipes against a background of small open coffins with shrouded bodies, dead bodies below him and naked dancing women in the foreground.

A detail from Alasdair’s 1953 interpretation of the Robert Burns poem Tam O’Shanter

Detail of a black and white printed drawing of a complex imaginary building like an old stone castle with huge doors, multiple staircases, small human figures some chained up and a weird fish emerging from a tunnel in the foreground.
Detail of a black and white printed drawing of a complex imaginary building like an old stone castle with huge doors, multiple staircases, small human figures some chained up and a weird fish emerging from a tunnel in the foreground.

Illustration from The Start of the Axletree in Unlikely Stories Mostly by Alasdair Gray

A life of art

“The actual wall-painting has more people in it than the sketch suggests, mainly copied from the waitresses who work there... I’m copying them from colour photographs, which is less satisfying.
PS. The people in the mural-sketches wear clothes, in the real thing.”
— Alasdair Gray, letter 1980

Doing paid work other than writing or painting was something Alasdair found almost impossible. He often described himself as an artist first and foremost but he also wrote stories, drama, poetry and non-fiction throughout his life.

He had periods of extreme poverty when he slept in whatever building he was decorating. And he famously painted his murals in the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant in Glasgow in return for hot meals. These early designs were sent to Tracy as part of a letter in 1980.

Black ink sketch with watercolour of naked pink figures behind a balustrade in front of a blue sky and green trees. Writing below says Landing, Staircase, The Large Walk, Musician in tree, Pointing figures above handrail, Procession of peacocks below
Black ink sketch with watercolour of naked pink figures behind a balustrade in front of a blue sky and green trees. Writing below says Landing, Staircase, The Large Walk, Musician in tree, Pointing figures above handrail, Procession of peacocks below

Sketch of Alasdair’s plan for the Ubiquitous Chip staircase mural 1980 (a series of 5)

Black ink sketch with door marked EXIT in centre. 2 naked pink figures embrace above the door in front of a blue sky and green trees. Figures behind a balustrade on left, peacocks going up a balustrade on right. Writing says Looking downstairs.
Black ink sketch with door marked EXIT in centre. 2 naked pink figures embrace above the door in front of a blue sky and green trees. Figures behind a balustrade on left, peacocks going up a balustrade on right. Writing says Looking downstairs.

Sketch of Alasdair’s plan for the Ubiquitous Chip end wall mural 1980 (a series of 5)

Blurry figure walking down stairs to an Exit door. Walls on either side and at the end covered in bright paintings of named men and women surrounded by trees and flowers in front of a blue sky with a line of peacocks at the bottom.
Blurry figure walking down stairs to an Exit door. Walls on either side and at the end covered in bright paintings of named men and women surrounded by trees and flowers in front of a blue sky with a line of peacocks at the bottom.

Alasdair Gray’s updated murals at the Ubiquitous Chip looking downstairs 2022

Alasdair Gray’s family favourites

Money came in more easily after Alasdair’s first novel Lanark was finally published in 1981, nearly 30 years after he started it. But it went out just as quickly, as Alasdair gave it away and overspent on his creative projects.

He described his life as an artist and a writer in detail in A Life In Pictures and Of Me And Others. And aspects of his life found their way into many of his books, in particular Lanark which is strongly autobiographical.

Book cover with a bright blue drawing of a strong naked woman with wings instead of hands and a small naked man over her stomach. Blue and gold lines frame the picture and red text says A Life in Pictures Alasdair Gray.
Book cover with a bright blue drawing of a strong naked woman with wings instead of hands and a small naked man over her stomach. Blue and gold lines frame the picture and red text says A Life in Pictures Alasdair Gray.

A Life in Pictures by Alasdair Gray

Greeny black book cover with white writing at the top and bottom saying Of Me And Others Alasdair Gray. 3 tall stylised flowers in gold are in the centre with a butterfly below each one.
Greeny black book cover with white writing at the top and bottom saying Of Me And Others Alasdair Gray. 3 tall stylised flowers in gold are in the centre with a butterfly below each one.

Of Me And Others by Alasdair Gray

Printed text says: for Morag, Mora, Andrew, Bert, Katriona, Tracy, Maff, Jim, Libby and Alexandra in Scotland England and the USA. Handwriting says: And in spite of them being mentioned here especially for Tracy and James from Alasdair 14.5.2014
Printed text says: for Morag, Mora, Andrew, Bert, Katriona, Tracy, Maff, Jim, Libby and Alexandra in Scotland England and the USA. Handwriting says: And in spite of them being mentioned here especially for Tracy and James from Alasdair 14.5.2014

The family dedication in Of Me And Others

A persistent presence

Alasdair Gray died in Glasgow the day after his 85th birthday, on 29th December 2019, but his spirit and his work are as alive as ever. An extraordinary person who had an inspirational impact on many lives – including our own.

Old black and white 1930s photograph of a little white boy standing in front of the sea and smiling. He's wearing round wire glasses and an old fashioned bathing suit and is holding a large stripy beach ball.

A favourite family photo of the young Alasdair Gray

Middle-aged white man in a red shirt and grey 3-piece suit points dramatically with 1 hand and holds a beer glass in the other. He's in a room full of pictures and people and standing beside another dishevelled middle-aged man with curly grey hair.

Alasdair (right) at the 1981 launch of Lanark with friend Malcolm Hood (left) who appears in 2 of the Lanark book prints

Older white man with a neat white beard, square glasses, white shirt and fawn jacket stands smiling on the deck of an old fashioned steamer on a sunny breezy day.

Uncle Alasdair on a day trip on the Clyde in 2003

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