Farewell to Ulster artistic '˜giant' Basil Blackshaw

Basil Blackshaw, a painter of international renown based in Antrim, died a week ago, aged 83.

His funeral was held at Roselawn Crematorium, Belfast, at 2pm on Monday.

Among those in attendance were English artist Neil Shawcross, and Ulster journalist Eamonn Mallie.

Mr Blackshaw’s works – which were often quite abstract in form – sold for tens of thousands of pounds at auctioneering firm Sotheby’s – and sometimes even into six figures.

The firm’s Charlie Minter, an expert in Irish art, dubbed him “the giant of contemporary painters in Ireland”.

His career stretched back to the mid-20th century and animals were especially favoured subjects for him.

Find out more about his life’s work here.