Scotland's first mural honors Jane Haining who died in Auschwitz protecting Jewish children

The artwork for the proposed mural in Paisley has been unveiled (Cameron Brooks/Church of Scotland) PA Media

Artwork for a mural honoring a Scottish missionary who died in Auschwitz after refusing to abandon Jewish schoolgirls has been unveiled in Paisley. The design commemorates Jane Haining, who was arrested by the Nazis in April 1944 and killed in a gas chamber at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The unveiling took place Tuesday to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. The mural, approximately nine feet high and 65 feet long, will be painted on a wall at Brown's Lane and Shuttle Street in Paisley this spring.

Paisley-based artists Alexander Guy and Caroline Gormley designed the piece, commissioned by Unison's Renfrewshire branch. It depicts Haining surrounded by children reading a book, flanked by portraits of her as a young and older woman.

Artist's Journey

Guy initially questioned the focus on one individual among millions of Holocaust victims. «Initially I thought to myself 'Why this woman, because millions of people died during the Holocaust' but the more I read about her, the more I realised how remarkable she was,» he said at the unveiling.

His research revealed Haining's story. «I did not know the story of Jane Haining before we were asked to do this and I found it fascinating to research the information about her life,» Guy explained. He described her as a true heroine: «Jane Haining was a true heroine and her story needs recognition, whether it's in Budapest, Paisley or Dunscore and I'm very honoured and privileged to produce a mural that hopefully does her and all her relatives proud.»

The design draws inspiration from Mexican and Belfast muralists, Soviet propaganda, 1980s coal miners' strike banners, and Dutch Delft blue pottery. «What we came up with is an amalgamation of all these influences combined with what I would call our own handwriting because I don't like using the word style,» Guy said.

Gormley emphasized their traditional painting approach: «We won't be using spray paints, we will be using brushes and just treat it like fine art canvas, that's how we'll approach it.»

Family's Response

Jane Haining's niece, Deirdre MacDowell, attended the unveiling. «It has been an emotional and rather overwhelming day, and we are delighted that the mural will be in a good location in Paisley,» she said.

She praised the design: «It tells Jane's story beautifully with the image of her and the children at the centre of it.»

MacDowell highlighted plans for educational impact. A film about Haining will be shown in schools. «There is so much enthusiasm for Jane's story and it is wonderful that the film will be shown in schools so younger generations can learn who she was and from her example,» she said.

Haining's Story

Haining worked as a secretary at J&P Coats' Ferguslie Mill in Paisley for ten years before becoming matron of the Scottish Mission School in Budapest. During the Second World War, she cared for Jewish schoolgirls and refused to return to Scotland.

The Nazis arrested her in April 1944 and deported her to Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. She died in a gas chamber a few months later.

The mural will be the first wall mural in Scotland created in her memory. The location at Brown's Lane and Shuttle Street marks routes Haining used for her daily commute when she worked in Paisley.

Attendees at the artwork unveiling laid wreaths and lit candles in her memory. The actual painting is expected to take around 25 days and begin in the spring.

Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).