The story of an artist who spent most of his life in a psychiatric hospital has come home after 64 years.
A Historic Scotland commemorative plaque to the sculptor Adam Christie was unveiled at Sleepyhillock Cemetery in Montrose.
Christie, who was born in Shetland, lived his adult life at nearby Sunnyside Hospital after developing mental problems in his youth.
He died in 1950 at the age of 84, having spent almost 50 years in the hospital.
During this time he developed a talent for painting and sculpture, crafting stone sculptures and painting using basic tools.
Christie’s descendants travelled from Shetland to give a dedication on the 64th anniversary of his death, and were joined by the Angus and Aberdeenshire provosts, Helen Oswald and Jill Webster.
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Mrs Webster said: “Aberdeenshire retains a fascination with heritage and history and it’s events like these that keep that passion burning.”
Mrs Oswald said: “Adam Christie was buried in a pauper’s grave where we stand today.
“A memorial rowan tree and a Historic Scotland plaque will ensure this remarkable story of this remarkable man will never fade away.”
The Rev John Anderson, of Hillside and Dun, provided the dedication, before piper Johnny Gauld played a bright piece entitled Regards, Good Luck and Keep on the Sunny Side.
“I thought the life and times of Adam Christie and his artworks are to be celebrated,” he said.
Christie’s biography, the Gentle Shetlander, was published by the late Ken Keddie.
Mr Keddie, a consultant psychiatrist, travelled to Shetland to meet the artist’s family as part of his research.
His widow Anne said hospital records painted Christie as a “highly popular and curiously revered” character.
“Ken commented that despite his long stay in hospital, Adam’s precious talents flourished.”
Dave Ramsay, a songwriter and director of the Howe o’ the Mearns Heritage Association, has overseen a seven-year project to acknowledge the Hillside artist.
He wrote a song based on Mr Keddie’s book in 2008 and has campaigned for greater recognition of a sculptor whose talents were recognised by esteemed sculptor William Lamb.
Mr Ramsay said: “The Historic Scotland plaque for Adam was only one of 12 awarded for the whole of Scotland, and that places him in a new light of recognition.
“The local support for fundraising and raising awareness of this remarkable story is also a tribute to the late Ken Keddie, without whom this story would never have been told.”