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Michael Kitchen of Banff, artist and former Military Police officer dies

Banff artist and angler Michael Kitchen has died.
Banff artist and angler Michael Kitchen has died.

Artist, art tutor and former army major, Michael Kitchen of Banff, has died aged 80.

Together with his wife Mary, Michael ran residential painting courses from their then home in Alvah.

Michael would provide art for up to 10 students while Mary handled the catering.

When they moved to their current home at Inverboyndie, Michael continued to paint, accept commissions and demonstrate at art events.

He also took on the role of project manager for the redevelopment of the old Trinity Church in Banff, which reopened as River Church.

Teaching at sea

For many years, Michael, accompanied by Mary, acted as artist in residence on cruise ships including the QE2 and Queen Victoria.

Michael Stephen Kitchen was born in Aberdeen in September 1942. His father, Edward, was an RAF navigator based at Lossiemouth during the war and his mother Janet (Stephen) came from Portknockie.

His father was later posted to Lincolnshire as a navigator instructor and after the war became an accountant and moved to Sale, Cheshire, where Michael was raised but he never forgot his Scottish roots.

After leaving school at the age of 15 he spent five years in the merchant navy and travelled the world.

Career change

His wife, Mary, said: “Thinking what to do next, by chance, he met a man who was in the Royal Military Police.

“The way of life really appealed to him and after a few years in the military police he decided to join the Special Investigation Branch and after that he never looked back.

“He was posted to Taunton, Somerset, where we met and we married in 1969.

“We had many different postings to Singapore, Germany, and Northern Ireland where he was mentioned in dispatches, Cyprus and then Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, he became a member of renowned missionary Jackie Pullinger’s church.”

Michael rose to become a major and ended his service as chief instructor at the Military Police training centre.

Move north

The couple moved to Aberdeen because of the draw of salmon fishing in the rivers of the area and Mary began working in administration in the sheriff court.

Michael had always painted but advanced his hobby to a commercial level by selling through galleries.

He considered himself an all-round artist who worked in pastels, acrylics, oil and water colours and undertook portraits and landscapes.

After being invited to instruct at the Independent School of Art in Cotton Street, Aberdeen, Michael had the idea to make a career of art.

Mary said: “We thought we could do this for ourselves so we bought a property in Alvah which had a cottage in the garden and we built a studio.

“We advertised in art magazines and for 17 years ran residential courses. We also took students on painting holidays to France and Morocco among other places.”

After Michael fell and broke his leg in 2011, the couple moved to Inverboyndie to a property overlooking the beach.

Art viewing

He continued to accept commissions and welcomed visitors to view his work through North East Open Studios.

Mary said: “He also took on portrait commissions which included Sir Alex Ferguson, Lord Dannet and Field Marshal Baron Inge.

“He also did three campaign commissions for the military police, the Falklands War, Northern Ireland and the Gulf War.

“After we downsized and moved to Inverboyndie, which was really a blessing, he was able to take on the role of project manager for the restoration of Trinity and Alvah Church in Banff.

“It had been empty for over 20 years and after three years and many hours of hard work by many people it is now a most beautiful building and a legacy to the town. It is also the home of the River Church Harvest Centre. ”

A dedicated fly-fisherman, Michael regularly fished for salmon in the River Deveron.

You can read the formal announcement here.

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