The death has occurred of the artist Basil Blackshaw, regarded as one of Ireland's great painters.

Mr Blackshaw, who was born in 1932, was noted for paintings of people, landscapes and animals such as greyhounds and horses.

The people whose portraits he painted included playwright Brian Friel, actor Clint Eastwood, former Irish Times editor Douglas Gageby, politician John Hume, poet Michael Longley and writer Jennifer Johnston.

In a programme earlier this year about the Co Antrim artist broadcast on BBC2 Northern Ireland, the former chief critic with The Irish Times and literary editor, Brian Fallon, said Blackshaw had "no equal" in Britain or Ireland. "He is as good as any painter in Europe I know."

Mr Blackshaw passed away yesterday. Fellow artists and admirers paid tribute to him on Twitter. Fellow Northern Ireland painter Colin Davidson said: “My hero has died. Thank you Basil Blackshaw. Rest in peace.”