An “outstanding” painter and lecturer at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design has died aged 45 after a battle with cancer.
Mother-of-two Delia Baillie, who recently made history when she became the first ever female treasurer of the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture (RSA), passed away in March.
A gathering to celebrate Delia’s life has taken place at Dundee Contemporary Arts, and her family have confirmed that other commemorative events and exhibitions will take place over the remainder of the year.
Awards and scholarships
Born in 1977, Delia was raised in Glasgow where she attended Pennilee Secondary School.
She moved to Dundee in 1995 to study at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.
After graduating in fine art, she was widely recognised for her unique talents and achievements in her field with numerous awards and scholarships including the prestigious Salveson Award in 2004.
These enabled her to travel and expand her work through visits to the USA, and Italy, while the residencies she undertook saw her living and exhibiting in Germany, Shetland and in Hospitalfield, Arbroath.
Lecturing in Dundee
Delia began lecturing at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 2003 where she taught on every undergraduate year from general foundation to final year, with her most recent role as lead tutor on the new MFA in fine art.
In 2008 she was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy with whom she exhibited annually.
As an Academician she also served as a committee member and as an exhibition convener.
In 2021 Delia co-convened the 195th RSA annual exhibition.
On November 22 2022, Delia was elected treasurer of the RSA, and was the first female to hold this office in the 197-year history of the Academy.
The appointment, as reported by The Courier, meant that all three honorary positions at the RSA were being held by Dundee-artists with Professor Gareth Fisher PRSA – interviewed by The Courier – elected president and Edward Summerton elected secretary.
Difficult year
Delia’s aunt Pauline Martin said: “In the last year of her life, despite battling the effects of cancer, her courage and determination saw her elected Treasurer of the RSA, take part in several solo and group exhibitions and expand her practice through collaborative printmaking, all while continuing her work as a lecturer.
“She was an outstanding artist and lecturer whose thirst for knowledge and intellectual rigour fuelled her creativity.
“Her infectious laughter was part and parcel of the inspirational force of positivity she was for the many folk whose life she touched.”
Delia is survived by her two young children.
Conversation