Annie passed away peacefully on Wednesday night after a short illness, with Shelley by her side. We will all miss her very much.
Annie had many friends both in New Zealand and around the world, and we’d like to invite you to leave a message here in celebration of her life and creativity.
Dear Annie – thank you for your beautiful art, your smiling face and your feisty attitude. I’ll miss you.
Thank you for all you gave me and our wonderful family. I will miss you intensely.
Annie, our family is privileged to have known you as a friend. You are a lovely lady.
We love your art and have a couple of pieces that we treasure and which will constantly remind us of you, and we love the passion and your depth of knowledge that you have with respect to your work.
Particularly fond memories of afternoons on the deck with you and Shelley!
Annie, I am very grateful that you were a part of my life and I will remember you as a woman of great character. I admire you for filling your life with the things that pleased you, and for sharing your creativity. Thank you.
Ann
While I only knew you through Shelley, I learnt of your contribution to this world. Yourney safely to your next world.
Michael
I will miss you greatly, my only sister, I am so pleased that I was able to visit you last October, it has left me with happy memories of you. Younger brother Robert.
Shelley’s email arrived this morning and now memories of Beck House, Artie, Victorian nighties, aga toast and wonderful dinner parties are flooding back. Dearest Annie, thank you for being a good friend – one who questioned me, and made me question. You and Shelley were so kind to me so many times. We have your lovely paintings hanging in our home and I’ll tell my children lots of stories of the dear, kind and clever lady who painted them.
Oh, and your advice about choosing lipstick – never forgotten! Jem xxx
Annie. I remember you for your beautiful artwork, feistiness, kindness, hospitality and impeccable taste. Particular memories? Your panic trying to park your car in 1982. Your kindness to me in a slightly troubled phase of teenage. Thank you xx
Dear Annie. I wore your clothes (you know what I mean), walked your sets and still have some of your sweet painted Christmas cards. Memories of Judy’s, the Arts, Stow-cum-Quy and all sorts come flooding back; and, of course, of the long friendship shared with you and Shell. The world is sadder now only because it was richer then because of you two.
God bless. Sleep tight.
Mike B
Dear Annie, Memories come flooding back of my first day of working with you (over 30 years ago!), of your wise words and encouragement when I was young and naive. How I always felt part of the family and how warm and welcoming you always were when I came to visit. Of Hugh saying “Please please give me a job” when we came to visit you in Yorkshire and you gave him a sizeable area of the garden to dig! Hugh felt very relaxed in, and enjoyed your company immensely. I will never forget your kindness, your hospitality and your wonderful artwork. I am so very very glad we came to visit you in NZ, I am so very very sad you will not be there the next time, but so very very happy to have known you. I will miss you! Carole xx
This is very sad news indeed. I remember seeing Annie’s artworks for the first time at Quy and was bowled over by the colours, skill and imagination. It was like a glimpse into a different world. Annie was very modest and matter of fact about it, as if anyone could do what she did. How wrong she was! Our sympathies to everyone dealing with this loss. Lyn Rogers and Peter Field, London
For Annie :I remember the moment i met you in Yorkshire ,i remember it as if it was yesterday,when indeed it was 20 years ago.Your loveley smile,your gorgeous shoes,and your beautiful house.
I have kept the xmas cards you have sent over the years and framed them they still hang to day in the childrens room.
You will be greatly missed , love to all in Newzealand.
all my love
Patsy
I really admired my Auntie Annie, although sadly we didnt meet up often. I loved her art & enjoyed spending time with her whenever we met up. I was so pleased that I was able to visit Annie & Shelley in NZ a few years ago. Spending time in their company was the highlight of my trip. My thoughts go to Shelley, Alice, Matthew & their families.
I have great fond memories of my Auntie Annie. I remember her great sense of humour, and I also loved her art work, which I look at every day as it hangs on our wall at home. I too am very pleased that I had the opportunity to visit Annie, Shelley and all the family in NZ several years ago on my honeymoon- it was lovley to see everyone again and has given me fond memories of NZ. Our thoughts go out to Shelley and all the family. Tania, Adrian & the boys (Christopher & Sam) xx
Dear Annie,
We first knew you back in the seventies when our son John was Matthew’s friend at primary school and was much peeved at having been born into the wrong family, for you had a soda stream and Shelley drove a swagger car. At that time we were all sloppily covering our Victorian terraced houses in white emulsion, but you created a front room in black and purple and gold.
And then there were the houses in Stow-cum-Quy, and later Carlton, with chunks of time in between when we lost contact.
And then, in your unbounded generosity, you both lent us Hindlethwaite Hall. We can never thank you both enough for this. At Hindlethwaite you gently nudged the house into the late twentieth century, but the house’s force of personality meant that was limited scope for interior design. Your paintings took on a greater role. I still have pinned to my study wall a copy of a Venice painting of yours, which was used as publicity for a Thirsk exhibition. And I still can’t bear to throw out the Carter Jonas prospectus of the house when you sold up and moved to New Zealand.
Regretfully we could do no more than make a brief visit to you in Wellington, but are so glad that you were all together at the end. Next time we’re in Yorkshire we might try to tell Artie where you are. If Shelley, Matthew or Alice are ever in Britain, do please let us know.
I haven’t known Annie very long but much admired her tenacity and her gentle, loving nature. Annie had many special gifts and I so enjoyed our occasional catch ups when she would show me some of her art and craft and we would just chat for a while.
My heartfelt condolences go to Shelley, Alice and family.
My association with Ani (her stage name then and because of a misprint in the theatre programme the reason why I am called Edi) dates from the first season of the Whatmore Players at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen, Scotland.. I was engaged for a week as a replacement for Jean Anderson who broke her arm on the paint frame winch. Anne decided to keep me on and not only taught me all the skills of scenic design but installed in me a love of all things theatrical. 55 years later I still work at His Majesty’s now as Theatre Archivist. When I was commissioned to write the history of HMT for its centenary in 2006 I ensured that special mention was made of Anne. This I did out of gratitude and affection for the fun and enrichment she brought to my life.
She was an inspiration.
Edi Swan His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
Having read some of the comments above, I wish still more that my wife and I had been able to visit Anne in NZ. I once spent a weekend in Wellington and was
lucky enough to be there when an art exhibition was showing. Anne had a couple of paintings showing, (Gael’s Hats and Parking in Venice) which were so
obviously the best there that I bought them both. My wife and I have dearly loved them since – and for her recent birthday ‘I bought her’ another. Anne was so
kind in sending a hand-painted birthday card and calendar that we both felt strongly that at the end of our sojourn in Australia we would visit Wellington and
see Anne in person. It’s such an ephemeral contact we’ve had, it’s odd for us to feel this way, but we both feel we’ve lost a friend.
Anne, you’ll be sadly missed.
Annie, I have fond memories of the last time I saw you in Wakefield in 1999, and will remember you as being great fun. I was always appreciative of the photos and clippings you sent when we looked at our Hill ancestors in NZ and regret that we were never able to find out more. I always looked forward to your Christmas cards, wondering what new design would surprise me. I think I must have met you only a few times, but through my mother I always knew where you were and what you were doing with your life. You will be greatly missed.
Louise
Dearest Annie, I was so sad to hear of this news,It has truly been a pleasure getting to know you over the last few years, You never failed to greet us with a wonderful smile. Was lovely to have a connection that from home also. You will be greatly missed by many, but I personally will miss your regular visits to us.
I hope you are at peace now and continue to keep an eye over us all down here.
God bless you and love to Shelly, Alice and the rest of your family,
Love and Sunshine, Jemma, Jacqui and the team at Aro Hair Studio XX
I have fond chilhood memories of my sister Annie, an older sister who led an incredible and intreresting life. Will be sadly missed by many. Your brother, Frank
Auntie Annie, my namesake, we have wonderful memories of you, especially from our trip to NZ. You made myself , Jason and our children all so very welcome. You gave me a wonderful insight into the Jasper family history, something I will treasure forever. You will be greatly missed by many, love to Shelley, Matthew, Alice and family.
Annie, Jason, Maisie, Billy and Molly xx
My dear cousin you will always be remembered for your wonderful artwork.You designed my beautiful wedding dress,the bridesmaids dresses,and you were one of my bridesmaids.I remember our visits to Stow cum Quy,and the kindness you showed entertaining our American friends.Our visits to you at Hindlethwaite Hall were memorable.You are in our hearts,dear Ann.
Love,
Muriel.
A lovely and very donated sister-in-law to her family and art work. We will miss you a lot. Love Cheryl Jasper ( Roberts wife )