Iconic Arts Writer Ian Hill Mourned

One of life's gentlemen, the journalist and commentator and award-winning arts critic - has died suddenly at his Strangford home.

Mr Hill, who was a youthful 73, will be laid to rest following a funeral service at Down Cathedral in Downpatrick on Friday. Originally from Enniskillen, he previously studied dentistry before choosing a career in journalism and the arts on which he wrote extensively.

Hill, a father of two grown up daughters, began his journalistic career as editor of Queen's University's student magazine, The Gown.

As well as writing about the theatre and exhibitions, he went on to work for the News Letter - where he met and married his first partner, columnist Nikki Hill, and later moved to the Belfast Telegraph.

In more recent times, Mr Hill contributed to numerous publications, including the Ulster Tatler.

Mr Hill was also a well-known author and was formerly a director of public relations with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

He previously served as a board member of the Cathedral Arts Festival and the Ulster Theatre Company.

Mr Hill was with his second wife, Helena, when he passed away at their home.

Commenting, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said that it regretted the death of one of Northern Ireland's leading art critics.

In an official statement they said that Ian Hill was a notable art critic, travel writer and journalist, working for several newspapers, as well as a contributor to BBC Radio Ulster and, beconing, over the years, a familiar voice on Radio Ulster's 'Arts Extra' programme.

Mr Hill studied at the famous Portora Royal School, before his dentistry degree at Queen's and then, alongside his career as a journalist, columnist and presenter, Ian Hill was for ten years a director of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the author and contributor of many travel books about Ireland, most recently, 'My Lagan Love'.

Ian Hill contributed a seminal essay on 'Arts Administration' to Stepping Stones, the Arts in Ulster, 1971-2001 (Blackstaff Press, 2001), the third volume in the 'Arts in Ulster' series, covering the development of Arts Council policy and practice.

The well known and highly respected journalist, Michael Drake, summed up much of the feelings about Ian Hill, commenting: "Through his travel and his writing, Ian was an unsung ambassador for Northern Ireland.

"It was a joy a thousand or so miles from home to pick up an in-flight magazine and find him with you. He will be missed but hopefully well remembered."

(BMcC/GK)