Dr Tina Gray was a medical pioneer and the sister of 'Glasgow Girl' Norah Neilson Gray.

Family life

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Glasgow Shipyard, where Gray's father owned ships
 
the Glasgow School of Art

Tina Gray was born in Helensborough in 1885, one of seven children of Norah Neilson and George Gray, a Glasgow ship owner[1]. During Gray's childhood the family enjoyed some affluence, but were to lose much of their wealth during a depression in the shipping industry after the First World War[2]. Tina was homeschooled, and went on to study drawing and painting at the Glasgow School of Art from 1901-1903.[3]. Her sister, beloved 'Glasgow Girl' Norah Neilson Gray, also studied at the Glasgow School of Art and enjoyed international recognition until her untimely death in 1931[4].

Career

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A painting of a military hospital by Gray's sister, Norah Neilson Gray

Gray, like her sister and many other middle class women of their generation, put herself forward as a volunteer during WW1. Whilst Gray's sister volunteered with the suffragist-affiliated Scottish Women's Hospitals, Gray volunteered as a nurse with the British Red Cross[5]. She was based at the 25th stationary hospital in Rouen, a British millitary hospital for infectious diseases[6], where she was given the award of one scarlet stripe[7].

Interwar period

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In 1925, Gray graduated from the University of Glasgow at the age of 41 with a medical degree and eventually became the assistant surgeon at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary[8]

During WW2, Gray was appointed as a surgeon at Dunfermline and Stonehouse hospitals[9].

Postwar period

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Gray retired from Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1946, and remained at Stonehouse until late 1947[10]. Gray was a member of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Lady Artists' Society (elected 1939). She died aged 100 in 1985[11].


  1. ^ "Scotland's People". GSA Archives Catalogue. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  2. ^ Arthur, Liz. Glasgow Girls: Artists and Designers 1890-1930. Kirkcudbright2000.
  3. ^ Arthur, Liz. Glasgow Girls: Artists and Designers 1890-1930. Kirkcudbright2000.
  4. ^ Arthur, Liz. Glasgow Girls: Artists and Designers 1890-1930. Kirkcudbright2000.
  5. ^ "History and Origin: First World War". British Red Cross. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Obituary of Tina Gray". British Medical Journal. 289: 773. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Search results | British Red Cross". www.redcross.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  8. ^ "University of Glasgow Story". University of Glasgow. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  9. ^ "University of Glasgow Story". University of Glasgow. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  10. ^ British Medical Directory.
  11. ^ "Obituary of Tina Gray". British Medical Journal. 289: 773. Retrieved 18 September 2015.

Category:Scottish peopleCategory:Scottish artistsCategory:Glasgow SchoolCategory:Alumni of the University of Glasgow