Mourning mum plans tribute
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THE heartbroken mother of a young Moray woman believes her daughter would have been “amazed” to discover how popular she was, and how she had helped to positively influence other people, during her short but inspiring life.
Talented 23-year-old Elgin artist Christine Grieve died last week after falling asleep in her flat, and never waking up.
Her funeral was held in Elgin last Tuesday, and mum Joanna (42) said it paid a fitting tribute to her popular daughter.
She said a large number of people from Christine’s past and present, including friends from her adopted home city of Edinburgh, turned out to pay their respects and share stories.
“I think Christine would have loved the ceremony and would have loved the whole thing,” said Ms Grieve, who is also mum to Stephanie (17) and Kelly (20).
“There were so many people who said Christine pushed me to do this, or helped me out. She was very artistic and sometimes had the moods to match, and there were times when she thought she did not have any friends. I think she would have been amazed to see the amount of people who came out. The whole ceremony was filled with happiness.”
Sifting through Christine’s huge number of paintings and drawings this week, Ms Grieve said her daughter had always wanted to stage a show of her impressive work but had never had the chance.
Now, Ms Grieve said she is hoping to find a venue – possibly Elgin Library – that will play host to such an exhibition.
“One of the things I am going to be doing is going to Elgin Library to see if they will put her work on display. That is what she always wanted,” she said.
“She was extremely talented. Her art consists of two types of work: very angular, straight lines that are very specific, and very emotional, beautiful drawings with curves and colours.
“She had been ill three or four months ago and she came back up here (from Edinburgh). We were sitting outside having one of those conversations you have, discussing what we would do if we won those Euro millions. She said she would have her own wee studio and would do her paintings and sell them, and make her own clothes. That was just her.”
Christine’s death is still unexplained and has officially been classed as “unascertained”.
She had been with a friend on September 6 and complained she had a sore throat. She went home to bed and telephoned into work sick on the morning of September 7.
Initially thinking she was asleep when she found her in bed on September 8, her flatmate, realising something was very seriously wrong, called 999. Christine had died in her sleep.
Ms Grieve said a postmortem has been carried out but could not establish a cause of death. She said further tests have since been completed, but she has been told it may be six months before the results are known.
“Christine never took any drugs. She didn’t smoke, and she was not into drinking very much. She didn’t do any of that, and so it’s very hard to get my head around this,” she said.
