When Gerard M Burns asked to paint my portrait, I was genuinely surprised. I have long admired his work for its beauty and depth, so my first response was a simple and honest one — why me?

I came to Glasgow over 30 years ago arriving at the Hospice in Clydebank with a hope of helping to build something rooted in dignity, compassion, and care. What followed was shaped not by any one person, but by the generosity of this city and the people who call it home. Through years of fundraising and shared effort, that hope became a vibrant Hospice — a place of warmth, humanity and quiet strength.

Gerard and I may speak from different places of belief, but we share a common inheritance of values — care for the vulnerable, respect for dignity and compassion for one another. It has been a profound privilege to walk alongside so many people living with life limited conditions. This honour belongs not to me alone, but to everyone at the Hospice – and everyone who has supported the hospice and whose dedication and commitment are lived out every day.

The palliative work in the Hospice continues the care for the people of Glasgow going all the way back to St. Ninians hospital in the Gorbals for leprosy in the 1350s, founded by Lady Lochow, this was for the dying. Our Hospice today is here for the living and dying in a holistic way.

Sister Rita Dawson’s Unveiling of Her ‘Mother Glasgow’ Portrait

The unveiling of Sister Rita’s painting took place at St Margaret of Scotland Hospice, where she works.

Gerard had the honour of presenting it, surrounded by Rita’s colleagues and friends from her 30 years work at the hospice.

It was a special and emotional moment, and, as Gerard says in this film, ‘I hope you can get some sense of this beautiful woman for this portrait’.