‘Heart in the hills’ for farmer, artist, Christian
Artist, farmer
ACELEBRATED Dunedinbased artist and retired farmer, Murray Ayson led a communityfocused life, immersed in Christian charity alongside his wife, Joan.
Murray Ayson was born in Balclutha in 1944 and raised at Slopedown, where his parents Eric and Molly farmed.
The area was so remote he began his schooling by post, later living with his mother on weekdays in a caravan in Clinton, before returning to help in the paddocks at weekends.
He boarded at John McGlashan College, in Dunedin, into his teens, and won a trophy for smallbore rifle shooting.
Mrs Ayson said her husband’s ‘‘heart was in the hills’’, and when he left school he returned to Slopedown to become an awardwinning sheep and beef farmer.
A lifelong Christian, it was through his faith he met his future wife, when they attended an Easter youth camp at Pukerau. He was 22.
He wooed her with days of fishing in the Catlins and ice skating on Manorburn Dam near Alexandra and they married three years later at Wyndham.
Living at the family farm at Slopedown, an everinventive Mr Ayson built a large ice rink in the cold winters of the 1970s and 1980s, by diverting water from a nearby creek.
Retirement in 2002 certainly did not mean a slowdown in life, but a chance to pursue the arts.
He joined the Royal Dunedin Male Choir and was the stage manager for 16 years.
His contribution was recognised by the choir with renditions of Speed Your Journey and Morte Christe at his funeral following his death, aged 75, on February 28.
Art had always been a calling for Mr Ayson, but it was during his time with the Otago Art Society that he showed his talent for landscape painting.
Mrs Ayson said when the society moved to the Dunedin Railway Station, her husband played a key role in both the move and configuring how to display works.
‘‘He found ingenious ways to hang paintings from the very high walls with strong fishing cord and smart springs.”
His commitment would lead to him being recognised with a life membership in 2018.
Her husband was particularly well known for establishing the artistinresidency activities, Mrs Ayson said.
‘‘He encouraged other artists to be brave and let visitors watch their brushes in action.”
His own works were recognised with 12 People’s Choice Awards during exhibitions at the Dunedin Railway Station.
Mr Ayson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September and was unable to complete his final work.
It has been included in a book called Paintings from my Palette, which will be sold later in the year to raise funds for the Cancer Society.
Mr and Mrs Ayson, who were close to celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, both played major roles in the building of the Mosgiel Presbyterian Church, carrying on the Christian work they had done in Clinton, where they ran a youth group.
Mr Ayson is survived by wife Joan, adult children Derek and Robyn, and five grandchildren.
— Matthew McKew