Tributes paid following death of Shrewsbury artist Rod Shaw, aged 85

Kirstie Bennett, one of Mr Shaw's three daughters, said: "My dad was funny, smart and yes a bit of a joker. He loved salmon fishing in Scotland and Ireland.

"He was an artist and an author and had written two books, Swimming With Salmon and No Picnic For Sam."

The Shropshire Star described Swimming With Salmon as packed full of tales of his childhood, adolescence, and young adult life.

From summer holiday adventures camping and messing about in the River Severn to a brush with the law, to art school, the Welsh mountains, a trip to France, and life in London in the swinging sixties.

Mr Shaw had been born in Shrewsbury, grew up in Whitehall Street and went to Monkmoor Boys School.

On graduating in Graphics and Ceramics, Rod moved to London and worked as an illustrator with clients like British Rail, Radio Times and BBC TV.

He followed this working as an Art Director with major London agencies like JWT and Young & Rubicam, before returning to his native Shropshire.

"He moved back because he missed his mum," said Kirstie. "His mum Ada and dad Eric were also Shrewsbury people.

"He was a bit of a naughty boy and got into trouble once for taking a tarpaulin off a railway carriage full of cement," she said. "It rained and the cement hardened.

"He went to court and was fined. His mum made him pay it out of the money he was getting for his 13th birthday.

"That is the last time he crossed the law, as far as I know!"

Mr Shaw's profession was in public relations and advertising and he was a keen reader of the Shropshire Star. He often wrote letters to the paper and was full of opinions, said Kirstie.

But it will probably be for his artwork over more than 20 years that mean he was known in Shropshire.

Mr Shaw has exhibited in mixed shows in West End galleries, MOMA Wales and Chester City Art Gallery he was included in The Voice of the Century Show at MOMA Wales.

He had a one man show at Gallery 3 as part of The Shrewsbury Summer Festival and The Place in Telford. He was also included in an exhibition to celebrate A.E.Housman’s A Shropshire Lad.

He exhibited with Sculptor Jeremy Schrecker and Ray Pearson Silk Screen printer at The Haystack Gallery an exhibition which was later shown at The Salthouse Gallery in St Ives under the title Three Elements.

Mr Shaw was also a budding author and had two books published. He was working on his third book which he sadly didn't get to finish.

"He was very active until about five years ago," said Kirstie. She, her sisters Sadie Hopkins and Alexis Hopkins, and Mr Shaw's "very special" granddaughter Sofie Bennett were all by his side on September 9.

The family has thanked the staff in the surgical assessment unit at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for "their amazing care, friendship and compassion.

"We are extremely grateful."

Mr Shaw's funeral will be held at Shrewsbury Crematorium from 12.30pm on Thursday, September 28. Anyone who knew him is invited to go along.

Find out more about Mr Shaw's artwork on his website: roderickshaw.co.uk