Obituary. HeraldScotland.com, June 23, 1993

The death of Danny Ferguson deprives the West of Scotland of one of its distinguished artists and the kindliest of men. Through his unique, versatile talents and refreshing personality he enriched the lives of all who knew him.

He was a member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour and a member of the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, of which he was an outstanding honorary secretary for nine years, being involved and responsible for the hanging of its annual exhibitions in McLellan Galleries for nearly two decades. He was also a past president of the Glasgow Art Club.

A painter of widespread acclaim, he exhibited regularly in all the major exhibitions in Scotland, and held many one-man shows in numerous galleries throughout the country. His work hangs in many civic, corporate, and private collections.

His paintings are of a very romantic nature reflecting his own personality in a wide variety of themes -- landscape, still life, interiors, self-portraits, and rather gentle Chagall-like compositions.

He was also an outstanding draughtsman who often fused his sense of humour with his incisive biting line into caricatures of his friends and others. But he was always gentle and never malicious in this field.

A publication, by the Glasgow School of Art in 1981, entitled Ferguson's Bulls-Eyes, is now a collectors' piece. In this phase of his work he always intended to hide his light behind the bushel.

From Airdrie Academy, where he had an outstanding early career -- taking the art prize with ease -- he entered the Glasgow School of Art in 1941.

His studies were interrupted and he served in the RAF in the Far East. Post-war studies in GSA gave him his now highly-coveted diploma in drawing and painting, winning at the same time the RSA prize and the RSA traveling scholarship.

In 1954 he married Margaret Dunn, herself a graduate of the Glasgow School of Art and a very fine embroideress and weaver.

A handsome and athletic figure, he played football in his early days for Baillieston Juniors, Bedlay Juniors, Douglas Water Thistle, and Blantyre Victoria, where he took over as centre-half from Jock Stein and actually wore his very jersey.

In recent years he was frequently snooker champion of the Glasgow Art Club. He was keen on bowling and was also a member of the Tighnabruich Curling Club. He even played croquet.

From early post-war years he was recognised as an outstanding teacher in the east end of Glasgow and gave credibility to art education in these formative years, gaining recognition from Jordanhill Training College and Her Majesty's Inspectorate in Scotland for the pioneering and impressive results he was achieving.

During these years he also taught in the evening school of the GSA. He joined the permanent staff of the GSA in 1968, and was one of the most devoted teachers the school has known.

His paintings, his drawings, his bonhomie and great sense of humour, and creative wit will remain with his friends as the happiest possible souvenirs of a lovable and memorable personality.