Jim Owens MBE was much loved by his family and friends and his talent speaks for itself.
The exhibition is aptly housed in Greenock Fire Museum where 47 pieces of his work are on display and is called Life by the Clyde.
His stepdaughter Erin Donnelly said: “This is a showcase of his art. A retrospective exhibition in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Heritage Museum.
“This is a combination of two big loves, his career in the fire service and his work as an artist and join them together.
“He received an MBE for his charity work, helping local and national charities and any funds raised will go the heritage trust.”
Jim sadly passed away two years ago, at the age of 74, after a brave battle against cancer.
He met his soulmate Grace through their loved shared of art and were together for 14 years and married in 2021.
Erin said putting together the exhibition with her mum had been an emotional journey.
Jim began serving his time as a painter/decorator but changed course when he was accepted to the fire service at the age of 23 and retired in 2006.
He served at Port Glasgow Station and threw himself into charity work during his time in the service, receiving his MBE in 2000 in recognition of this.
Speaking to the Telegraph to pay tribute to Jim after he passed away, Erin said: “Jim always loved to use his skills to help others and he volunteered with Light Trust in Port Glasgow and visited Kosovo and Bulgaria to build and refurbish orphanages, take aid, and support the communities there.”
He and Grace also regularly exhibited their work at Greenock Art Club and Jim regularly donated his artworks for the benefit of local charities.
Jim had two sons, a daughter and a stepson, later gaining three step-daughters, and sharing many much loved grandchildren with Grace.
Erin said: “Jim was an oil painter, he would paint on anything, cardboard or canvas, he was prolific, he enjoyed painting maritime scenes and views.
“For me and and my mum is been extremely emotional, setting the exhibition up, it’s been a labour of love framing all his paintings.
“His friends from the fire service and the art club helped us, I suppose we were so busy with the mechanics of it all, I just hang the last one which was a portrait, when I saw his face I got very emotional.
“He would have never expected there to have been an exhibition in the fire station because that was sacrosanct. He would have been so proud, it reflects so many aspects of his life.
“It’s been a really lovely uplifting experience for the family. Jim’s sisters Helen and Marie came along.
“It was a lovely way to commemorate a lovely, lovely man.”
The exhibition will continue on October 17, 18 and 19 between 6pm and 9pm.