Paul Clowney | In memory of a loving husband, father, brother & friend

Paul Clowney (1946 -2012)

Paul passed away in the early hours of Good Friday 2012, surrounded by family. We had sung hymns and prayed with him and he was at peace. He was speaking to us only hours before his death.

If you have stories, memories or photos to share, we’d love you to leave them below.

With love - Tessa, Ben, Ari, Hannah, Roland & Tom.

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Rosie

What a fitting way to remember the person who introduced me to the internet! Still have a vivid memory of being shown how to surf by Ben and Paul and how slow the pages were to load… I’m still trying to imagine a colour I’ve never seen before (which does my head in) and looking forward to being able to fly in heaven (which would be a passtime, obviously, as Paul says we’re all going to have normal jobs alongside extraordinary abilities on the new earth). I don’t think anyone will stretch my imagination as much as Paul has done! All this as well as drumming the catechism into teenaged brains – Paul’s life certainly achieved its chief end of glorifying God, and now he can enjoy Him, pain free, forever. Love to you all, Rosie x
Obrtstanicrovinj

Dear Paul,

At the moment my heart stopped. In the short time I lost my two beloved people: my father and dear friend-you. I was blessed because I met a wonderful person, a true friend. You were the light at the end of the tunnel …

I light this candle and prayers extend to you, I know we’ll meet again. Have you, dear God bless and give peace and tranquility that you deserve.
You will forever have a special place in our hearts … We love you

I extend sincere condolences to the entire family Clowney. We sincerely share your pain and loss of a loved one

Borka and Mićo from Croatia
Eowyn Stoddard

Some fun memories I have of uncle Paul are him introducing us kids to shuffle board, him making us ginger ale from his soda machine, giving us rides on his motorcycle, asking us to guess what things were made of. He was always interested in so many different things, always coming up with great ideas, always producing cool art. He was also a great thinker, applying his faith to great depths and all areas. Always creative, always creating and redeeming. I think particularly of the nail piece in which he used old rusty nails pinned into soda cans and creating a thing of beauty out of trash. That is God’s business too: redeeming this broken world and transforming it into something beautiful. We will miss you, your creativity, your inquisitive spirit but also know that you are far better served where you are now and discovering multitudes of dimensions that were unknown to you on earth. I look forward to seeing you again some day and to you showing me all of your new art you have been creating in glory.
You are all in our prayers as you grieve the loss of your dear husband and father. We love you!
Eowyn and family
Raju and Catherine Abraham

Dear Tessa, Tessa, Ben, Ari, Hannah, Roland and Tom

It was a few days ago on Good Friday that Jonathan our son his wife Sharon and Catherine and I in India, were listening to Tim Keller – Paul’s favorite preacher. So it was with deep sadness that we heard the next day that Paul had gone to be with the Lord.

It is difficult to describe the relationship that I had with Paul. He was such a fascinating person, I first got to know him in the 70’s when he was travelling secretary with UCCF. My first memory of him was him giving a lecture on Christian art at 52 Cleveland Road. Paul was then fresh from studying with Hans Rookmaker at the L’Abri in Holland. I was then being profoundly influenced by Francis Schaeffer at L’Abri in Switzerland. So Paul actively promoting the idea of the Lordship of Christ in all areas of life particularly in Art invigorated me.
He was not only creative in teaching a Biblical Christian approach to art. He was always actively supporting those with an interest in Arts (mostly behind the scenes) and was willing to give time to people, to encourage them. He was gentle, retiring and introspective and reminded me of his father (who also had a profound influence on me).

Paul also ‘lived it’ as he would later try to make a living as a graphic designer and animator, helped by his creative and practical wife. My most memorable time was working with Paul, often late into the night on the graphics of ‘Christmas Cracker’ – his graphics and slogans were crucial in launching that fledgling charity to raise money for the two thirds world. Christmas Cracker later launched many into missions (including Catherine and me and our family to North India). As iron sharpens iron one man sharpens another.

In the 20 + odd years that we have been in India, we have intermittently kept in touch. They were always so encouraging about our work among the poor in North India and the remarkable work that God was doing here. In the late nineties our son Matthew went to work with Paul for a time and Paul helped him launch into IT. My last memory of Paul was with Sarena our daughter and me having an exquisite dinner that Tessa had made at their spacious home in Edinburgh 2 years ago.

One can’t think about Paul without thinking about his father Ed (who so profoundly influenced Tim Keller see http://www.crossway.org/blog/2008/10/the-sermon-that-inspired-tim-kellers-latest-book/). I downloaded two of Ed’s articles ‘The Final Temple’ and ‘The Singing Savior’ and went back to read them again.
(The Singing Savior’ is available on http://www.bible-resources.org/dox/Clowney_JXSings.pdf) Ed says in the Singing Savior that Christ’s ‘songs carry us through the valley of the shadow of death’. How true on Easter day (2 days ago) the speaker at our gathering of about 200 Hindu background believers spoke about the hymn ‘Because He Lives’ we downloaded it from U-tube played it over and over again that day that helped to elevate the gloom that we felt as we remembered Paul The last verse is most memorable.

And then one day I’ll cross the river, I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.

One day we will meet Paul in glory, what a lot we will have to share of the great God we serve.
Raju and Catherine Abraham.

PS Paul often asked me to write about his father’s influence on my life so let me be one of the first to write about Paul – Raju
Ram and Sunita Gidoomal

I was introduced to Paul by Raju Abraham when Paul helped with the creative design and branding for the Christmas Cracker project. His creative genius was a significant factor in the success of this project that sought to mobilise teenagers to raise funds for the two thirds world but more importantly excite them about missions.The fact that over 50,000 teenagers were mobilsed to raise nearly $10million for good causes is a testimony to Pauls innovative and creative design and slogans that attracted them to engage with the project. It was always fun meeting with Paul and working with him. He also worked with us at South Asian Concern and Winning Communications Partnership and we all appreciated his servant heart and humilty. He will be missed and we are grateful to the Lord for his ministry.

Ram and Sunita Gidoomal
Ranald Macaulay

Dear Tessa –

I was very sad to hear of Paul’s death. I didn’t know even that he was really seriously ill! But at the same time it is good to look back on a fruitful life and to know of his steadfast trust in the Lord right up till the end. I wish I could have got to know him better. Trust you are doing OK and sincere condolensces from Susan and myself to all the family. I visited Edith Schaeffer a month ago in Switzerland. She is 98 this year. Lots of memory loss but still singing her old hymns with vigour!

Ranald (Macaulay)
Lesley Barnes

Of all my many memories of Paul the one I can’t get out of my head just now is the way that he always looked immaculate when he got up to preach! There was always an eye catching tie or an unusual colour combination and his hair always looked as if it had just been cut for the occasion. I never interpreted this as vanity. I just felt that Paul knew we would all have to look at him for the next 40 mins and he wanted to make the experience as pleasant as possible. Of course, on top of that, the sermons were always mind stretching, amusing and helpful. He was the first person to point out to me that Heaven is described as a city in the Bible and helped me not feel guilty that I love living in London.

My second memory is the effect he had on our children. They loved him and enriched their lives. I will always be grateful for that. Thank you Paul x

Lesley
Susanna

Dear Tessa,

I have written a letter to you which I will post this afternoon. I thought I would write a bit of it here for everyone to read.

I read your news of Paul with such sadness. I knew he had become seriously ill again after we came back from Croatia but we all lived in hope that his condition would somehow turn a corner and bring him back to health. The good news is that he is at Peace with no more suffering and he was so blessed to have you and your family by him and his deep faith within him.

Paul was one of my class mates at Leith School of Art that first year with Paul Martin and David. I have wonderful memories of him. He worked so hard to produce the standard of work he expected of himself. He was much more knowledgeable than a lot of us and was really like a 3rd teacher in the background. He was never too busy to help and never too busy for a chat and was always the first to pick up the pieces of people like me who often fell apart.

Paul was someone who had a huge talent but was willing to on on learning. He was always modest of his achievements. Although a student he taught us all on many levels by example. He was kind, thoughtful, generous, interesting and interested and clever.

He will be sadly missed by me and all his friends.

You were a great couple and I am sure with Paul’s memory by your side you will continue the strong and meaningful life which was yours.

With my thoughts and prayers for you all at this time.

With love from,
Susanna Laing
Graham

The news of Paul’s passing was announced to our congregation just before the end of the Good Friday service. From now on I will always have a special day on which to remember Paul. We had around twenty years of service together as elders in the Internatioanl Presbyterian Church, Ealing, so I got to appreciate Paul as a friend and wise counsellor. I found his sermons special, constructed as works by a true artist. He also blessed our congregation by having his late father preach for us every year; a real treat.

Paul you have passed over and the trumpets have sounded on the other side. I thank God for every memory of you.

Graham
Elizabeth Lynch

Dear Tessa,

We in Charlottesville have followed the sudden and deepening sorrow of Paul’s final illness quietly, but closely. You and Paul are as bright and vibrant in my mind and heart as if you were sitting on the sofa in Jean’s living room singing and laughing with us. I now grieve with you and for you. Paul was a serious, thoughtful, omni-capable man of large mind and soul. I value the memories of him and wish there had been time for more.

Please know that you, and Ben and Ari, Hannah and Roland, and Tom are very present in mind and in prayer and will continue to be throughout the weeks and months ahead.
David Barnes

Many memories. All good ones. Paul always wanted to think more than the rest of us and I think he ‘saw’more than the rest of us. he saw angles to thingsthat we were simply blind to. I remember the sermon on ‘Darwin’s Black Box’ (Michael Behr’s idea of ‘irreducable complexity’) and the sermon on parallel universes and string theory. And just occasionally, I need sermons like that. I remember hospitality. I remember lots of things amde out of wood. I remember a really good friend who was always encouraging. Climbing walls. A sense there was always something more to be grasped and a sense that we haven’t yet grasped it, so you were always being called on to something new (which was actually something old) and better. I think impeccably orthodox, but never content with orthodoxy for its own sake.No one is irrplaceable says the cliche The cliche is wrong.
Fran Percival

Tessa,
You were both kind and welcoming neighbours – we couldn’t have hoped for better. Paul surprised me and provoked me to think differently, often with his dry humour, by something he said every time we met. Other people have already been far more eloquent than I can be, about how clever, thoughtful and capable Paul was and especially what a Godly man, through and through – he is surely where he belongs with the Lord. Since you moved to Edinburgh and he got ill, we have only been in touch via his email updates and it seems to me he was a man who lived every minute of his life. You don’t need the likes of me to tell you he was a special person. It was a privilege to have known him.
Miffany Blythe

Dear Tessa, Ben, Hannah, and Tom

I was sitting deep in the Australian bush down in the Otways late on Thursday night. The moon was so full and bright that you needed no torch, despite the pitch black sky. I shared with James, and our two close friends what was happening many miles away and we made a toast. We raised our glasses to a full life, to making all the days count, to Paul, his life, humour and generousity. May you find comfort in all the memories, and the knowledge that so many think lovingly of him. Love Miff
Paul J

Dear Tessa, We read your email on sun night when we got back from camping. We are so sad for you and your loss of Paul.
These last couple of days have been filled with sadness but also filled with memories that make us smile. A pervading memory of Paul is from when he stayed part time with us while at LSA. Sunday nights he would arrive in late after sitting in British Rail engineering works for most of the day, Joyce would sit him down to a large plate of food (she always cooked extra on Sunday as Paul had a healthy appetite) then we would sit around the kitchen table and chat about anything and everything, from creation and evolution to the joy and frustration of parenting to the latest developments on TED. Inevitably we would wind the evening up with a wee dram of scotch. We spent a lot of time together that year and Paul was part of the maelstrom of our family with two small kids and a baby…. He was very patient especially with Elsie who was in the full throes of terrible two’s. She could quite often be persuaded by Paul to calm down and then would sit quite content on his knee sucking her thumb. As someone who was always busy and in demand he took time to help us in our daily lives in whatever needed doing, often times we would put the kids to bed and we would come downstairs and find the dishes done! His inquisitiveness and interest in people was an inspiration. Just think of all those interesting conversations he is having now. we wish we were nearer, Paul, Joyce, Gabriel Elsie and Sol.
Hans

At times like these words don’t seem enough…
During the four years I was fortunate enough to share friendship with Paul he became a teacher, mentor, inspiration and companion. From coffee breaks at Leith School of Art, to single malts at the Whisky Society, to the hours I shared with him in his workshop in Vodjan he was influential, supportive and a joy to share company with.
Paul was a unique example of just how good a person can be.
His premature passing leaves deep sadness, but Paul, his smile, his humour, his creativity, his care, his conversation and his lust for life leave a lasting impression and legacy.
I will be forever grateful that our lives crossed.
With Love Hans
Lois McKim

I am so sorry for this incredible loss of a wonderful husband, father, and brother. I came to know Paul on his visits to Charlottesville, Virginia to see his parents Ed and Jean and his sister Debby. His visits were eagerly anticipated by not only his family but their friends as well, as time with Paul was always lively, full of good conversation and easy laughter. He loved his family and they loved and delighted in him. He was so kind and encouraging in his unique way during his mother’s last illness. Though across the Atlantic, his creative and humorous recounting of family times past brightened her days and made her laugh as only Paul could do.
He was quite a man and I am glad to have known him.
May the Lord sustain you all in days to come.

Lois
jan roe

jan
Sorry to hear about Paul but glad that he had peace.
David in the O.T. said after his son had died, “he cannot come to me; I can only go to him”
Samantha Murphy

I am so sorry to hear about Paul. I havent known him recently and since I last saw him we have all grown up so much but my memories of the house in Hanwell and the family I knew as a teenager are so vivid – all the family dinners at the big table which i would regularly invite my self to, Hannah’s bed in the sky, Tom’s climbing wall which Paul laboured so amazingly over, Paul’s workshop, walking Pepsi and then when the puppies were born….I could go on.
Thinking of you and sending lots of love Sam Murphy (O’Higgins)
Jes

Years ago the Elder family lived at 502 Grant Avenue and the Clowneys at 520 Grant Avenue, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, and we youngsters went to Philmont and spent hours playing together in and out of each others house and yards . . . when we moved to Rochester (NY) we children lost touch . . . I’ve been in UK since the ’70s, married and have my own children and now grandchildren but have fond memories of discussions about Jesus and Godly living, even as children. My prayers go with the family while they suffer loss, yet knowing there is a new artist in Heaven being creative in the Creator’s presence. Jessie Custer Elder James

Debbyclowney

Jessie, this is Debby Clowney. I was your babysitter a million years ago. I remember telling you all a ghost story which kept the rapt attention of your and your sibs for a very long time, but when it was over you all went around screaming and scared. I never did that again! And i used to come help with housework during the week and clean your roooms (kind of) on the weekends. I have many memories of all of you and your parents.

Jes

I remember the babysitting, but not ghost stories, so you didn’t do permanent harm, evidently . . .

Nicoline Reijmerink

How very sad I was after reading your mail about Paul. I’m so very sorry for you Tessa, Ben, Hannah and Thomas. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
My memories of Paul are many different ones. Starting from almost 15 years ago when I came to London as an au-pair. From the start, I was moved by the great authenticity of all familymembers. I remember the times we took out the dogs for a walk . We could have just a chat or a deep conversation about all different subjects. Or Paul teached me something about the things he observed along the path ( nature, buildings) I always felt his real interest and concern. I remember the funny times, when he tried to talk Dutch. He only was able to remember very odd, ancient and difficult words. The story goes that he read the Dutch dictionary, while living in Amsterdam.:) And of course I won’t forget that I learned from Paul to climb a wall. He was encouraging and supportive, which made me exceed my one limits. I like the very creative things he made, like the artwork with all the little pieces of coloured wood, found by him on the Isle of Wight, and of course the wooden wall.
The last time I saw Paul is only almost a year ago in Edinburgh. It felt so warm and familiar again to be with you. Paul talked about his illness with great humour and in perspective. And he showed his new masterpiece of art with movements and lights.
How very sad the illness came back. Fortunately, he is with God now and I’m curious about the conversations he is having there!
With love,
Nicoline Reijmerink -Van der Laan
Chris

Paul always spoke with so much enthusiasm, excitement and delight about whatever the latest thing was that he had recently discovered or seen. One always felt one had somehow missed out. That is magnified a hundred fold now. I wish I could hear him describe the glory and delight he now shares eternally.
Geoff Clarke

DearTessa,
Muffy Coates has let me know about the sad passing of Paul. I am am so sorry for your loss and the great hole it will leave in your family’s life. I never got to meet Paul, but had a great sense of what a wonderful man he was from people like muffy who kept me up to date with the clowney family “adventures.”Tessa, although we have seen little of each other since our University days, I have never forgotten those good times, and have admired you from afar as you developed your career, created a wonderful family with Paul, and together set an ethical example to be admired.
with love and sadness for you at this time.
geoff Clarke
Krattie

When others just talk about doing stuff in life, Paul actually did it. He may not always have been successful in the world’s terms but he lived the dream. Developing property in France and Croatia. With his passion for technology he was truly ahead of his time. He produced a ground breaking animated television series. He was a ‘grunt’ in the Vietnam War. As a father he cared about spending quality time with his family. In his sixties he embarked upon a course in Fine Art. It’s all the stuff most men just dream about doing. I hadn’t seen much of Paul in the last decade but when I did see him late last year, he was as quietly sophisticated, intelligent, enquiring and faintly exotic as ever.

Twenty years ago I had an unforgettable conversation with Paul about what heaven would be like. He was fascinated by the idea that we would be able to fly without wings. I know he’ll be doing that now.

Notwithstanding all of the interesting, curious,engrossing and potentially distracting projects he pursued in his full life he never wavered in his faith in Jesus. That will be his lasting legacy and enduring example.

Treasure the memory Tessa

love Krattie
Dave mcilloney

A kind, generous, immensely capable man whose knowledge and intellect should have been intimidating – but wasn’t because of his sense of humour and enthusiasm for everything and everyone. I’m sure he enriched many people’s lives.

Dave
Mardi keyes

Dear Tessa,

Our hearts go out to you and the family. Dick and I feel privileged to have known Paul and to have been part of your lives, while all of us were in Ealing, and during our trips back, when you graciously opened your home to us. Dick and I remember the times you turned your home into a gallery for Christian artists…in fact, Dick bought a small painting of “lovebirds” and gave it to me as an anniversary gift! Over the years we have also felt a bond through our shared love and concern for Roger and Kath Scholes. Paul’s amazing creative gifts – artistic and verbal, have been an inspiration to us. We loved his “found objects” wall hanging cubbies, collected from rummaging through dumpsters! And we still read with pleasure his brilliant pretend real estate advertisements. Paul had an amazing combination of gifts with humility, which I am sure will bear fruit forever in God’s Kingdom.

I too am very thankful for Tim Keller’s sermons. I think all of the L’Abri workers in Southborough have listened to his “Practical Grace” series, and when I was ill for a few months, I listened a couple of times to the “Spiritual Warfare” series. These and others have been enormously helpful to many of our students as well.

Dick and I will be praying for you at this time and in the coming months, knowing that not only the loss of Paul, but all the practical (legal etc.) details can be overwhelming.

May you experience God’s very present help, and the reality of the hope that has come to us through Christ.

With our love,

Mardi and Dick
Rolandfraser

I will always remember Paul for his warmth and generousity. I also cherish our conversations together about many subjects but in particular about the process of making art,. I have recently completed a work from materials kindly given to me by Paul. Seeing his work on this site reminded me of his talent and sensitivity as an artist.
Kirsty Thorburn

Dear Tessa

It has been such a privilege to count you and Paul as friends over the years and it is hard to grasp that we won’t see Paul again in this life. I learned so much from Paul during the 18 months I worked for him in 2000 to 2001 and I am very thankful to have had that opportunity. But perhaps especially I remember the day he showed us photos of a house in France that you had discovered, and said in passing ‘I don’t suppose you’d be interested in a share?’ That was the beginning of another venture that we have shared in over the past 11 years. My life has been so much richer for knowing you and Paul, and working alongside you both in so many different projects.

Praying for you and all the family.

Kirsty
Fei Song

As a friend of Debby, I am sorry to hear about this and please allow me to give my best wishes to him and my love to the Clowneys, especially Debby. R.I.P

-Fei Song
Myriam

Dearest Tessa,

I just wanted you to know how deeply you, Ben and Ari, Hannah and Roland and Tom are on my hearts. I am very sad not to be with you at the funeral but am so grateful Tessa R., Zoe, Julien and Toby can be there from the Jones clan, as well as my mom of course. I am so glad she had time reading C.S. Lewis to Paul by his bedside and was able to cherish that time with him before he went to be with the Lord. Though I did not know Paul well, I always felt right at home with you and him in your home, always accepted, always cherished, always engaged and cared for. I always was fascinated by him as many were. I thank the Lord that he used Paul in ways many of us could never be used–particularly creatively and artistically: seeing things in God’s created world and being caught up in the awe of how things work. I think Lewis may turn out to be a Paul someday. I am lifting you all up in prayer constantly and am sad not to be with you on Tuesday. May God’s great comfort and peace surround you powerfully! Myriam (and Andy, Aidan and Lewis)
Froukje

Dear Tessa,

It’s hard to find the right words… Both you and Paul have meant a lot to me since we met almost 10 years ago now. At the time I was scraping by on freelance work while living in a very over-crowded house and the very day I met you both, Paul offered me a desk in his office where I could do my work in peace. It was overwhelmingly generous and typical of your and Paul’s attitude to people and to life in general. There are many other good memories. The week Chris and I spent in Rovinj with Paul stands out – one evening in particular when we sat out on some rocks with the waves splashing up at us, drinking wine and conversation was riveting as ever… That week was your wedding present to us and all the more dear now for having spent so much of it talking to Paul.

I have been and will be praying for you and yours.

Love from Froukje
South Asian Concern

16th April, 2012

Dear Tessa,

I am writing to say how sorry we are at the news of Paul’s death. We want to express our deep sympathy to you and the family, as well as our joy in the resurrection hope that we share.

Paul had such a formative influence on the early development of South Asian Concern and we are truly grateful for that. He was so much more than a brilliant professional; he also became a great friend and a model of a follower of Christ, using all his gifts.

I first met Paul through Raju who brought him into the planning of Christmas Cracker, in which Paul’s brilliance was so outstanding. Then I worked more closely with him on the initial planning of ‘The World Christian’ which he then handed on to Simon Jenkins. Working with Paul was such a joy, he was always accessible, always helpful and creative and always humorous. I appreciated him so much.

A few years later we came back to him for publicity material for South Asian Concern and he created the most amazing brochure for us. We still treasure the few copies that we have left. They captured powerfully the different facets of the vision we were trying to share, which many people found hard to grasp, as it was so wide-ranging at the time.

So we are really grateful to Paul for his contribution to us as a small organisation trying to develop, and the gracious way in which he encouraged us. But even more for his friendship and his deep commitment to Christ which was worked out in every part of his life. We do want to assure you of our prayer for you all, as you prepare for the funeral.

With our love and greetings from all the SAC team.

Robin Thomson for all the SAC team (Raju Abraham, Paul East, Ram Gidoomal, Deepak Mahtani, Suneel Shivdasani)
Phil Archer

Dear Tessa,

I am so grateful to have known Paul since the late 1970s. I was then a young art student finding my way and he was a shining example of how to live a fully rounded, creative Christian life. He was a great encourager and always gathered people together in a vibrant and exciting way; turning your house into an art gallery, teaching us to play shuffleboard, getting us to make beautiful kites and then flying them, lectures and discussions linking our art and faith.

In recent years it has been a real privilege to have Paul undertaking our painting course at Leith School of Art and then teaching with us from time to time and also helping us with film and photography.

Helen and I are both shocked and greatly saddened by Paul’s sudden departure. We knew the long term prognosis wasn’t good but hoped he would be with us for a lot longer.

With our love and all good wishes,

Helen and Phil
http://www.bobandevy.com/ Bob Smith

Dear Tessa

I heard the news of Paul today and a part of me died inside with him. My wife Evy and I grieve with you, your children, and the Clowney family, their spouses and children as well. Our prayers are with you, and Paul’s wonderful spirit will always be with us.

As you know, Paul was the one person who came along side me in my college years and with so much enthusiasm and interest, lead me to the Lord. My mom attributes Paul for saving my life as I struggled with hopelessness and all that was going on in the world.

My first encounter with Paul was when he sat next to me on the train to PCA where we had classes together, noticed I was reading the Gilgamesh Epic and Old Testament Parables, and wanted to know what I thought of the book. I was amazed that someone cared what I thought about something. Days later he invited me over to his house, where I encountered a true Christian home in the Clowney household. Paul witnessed to me over a few week period and one day brought me to a Christian coffee house called The Alternative. We went to hear Christian artist Steve Hudson play and sing his powerful testimony songs. That night my heart was melted, I literally dropped to my knees and gave my life to Christ.

In the two and a half short years I spent with him in the States to he moved to England, Paul was the only person who took time, I mean quality time out of his life to disciple me in so many creative ways. He was my best friend and mentor, always reaching out to others, and simply the most warm, caring, fun-loving, amazing and inspiring person I’ve ever met. Paul was always filled with enthusiasm and wonder of what God has done in creation and on the cross, how he has called us to live—with the expectation that one day we will meet him in glory. Here are some of the things we did together:

He’d take me on 2 day hikes and rock climbs on the Appalachian trail, camping, fishing, reading Psalms on the edge of a cliff at sunset as Paul would say, “God sure knows what he’s doing doesn’t he?” Telescoping the constellations at night, having fun with animated frisbee catches, intense ping pong matches, provincial town explorations, junk pile search and finds, artistic sketching endeavors, photo shooting adventures, museum trips, repairing things like sneakers with a ground down hockey puck and glue, initiating outreach times to folks he or I knew and encountered, book browsing, pipe smoking over coffee house discussions, encouragement talks on the street curb, prayer times together, trips to New England to hear famous Christian authors speak like Hans Rookmaaker, Francis Schaeffer and Os Guinness, riding every Sunday evening down to his brother David’s Church Of The City, hanging around with folks afterward playing guitars and singing I Saw The Light, flat picking some hearty Doc Watson tunes, and learning fingerpicking styles to his favorite ragtime specials. Yes, I will miss him…

I believe this verse aptly describes the life of Paul Clowney:

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Cor. 4:6-8

God bless you all!

Bob Smith
and Evy Viss Smith
Annie Broadley

My first memories of Paul at Leith School of Art are of his encyclopaedic knowledge and also his clever sense of humour.
Over the 3 years since we left I came to know him better when he took some beautiful photographs for me and helped me through the intricacies of setting up web sites. He was an exceptionally kind and generous man.

It must have been no mean feat for him and Tessa to organise an art week in Vodjnan and they tolerated the incursions into their lives with hospitality and good grace, making it a wonderful and memorable experience.

With his deep spiritual belief and his wide-ranging knowledge I always think of him as the perfect example of the New Renaissance Man.

Our love and thoughts are with you and the family Tessa.
Annie & Peter
Hanaesselink

I’m so sorry to hear that Paul has passed away…I bumped into John and Claire this morning as they went to Victoria coach station and I was on my way to work..didn’t know him so well but remember him from the 52 Cleveland Road days and after..rest in peace Paul
Simon Jenkins

Paul has been a greatly-loved person in Roey’s and my life, and so the thought of him no longer being here is as nonsensical and perplexing as someone saying the rain’s going backwards. Several days since getting the news, I still can’t take it in. How is it possible for Paul to be gone? I find death more astoundingly opaque as I get older, when I thought it would get more transparent.

A friend texted me on Good Friday afternoon, just hours after Paul died, to remind me of a meal we shared where Paul arrived, took in the smell of coriander coming from the kitchen and said, ‘Ah… coriander. Reminds me of Vietnam.’ I can hear him saying it, in that cool and calming American accent of his.

That story reacquaints me with one of the things I always appreciated about Paul, that he was from elsewhere, culturally. From Vietnam, as a photographer with Richard Nixon’s army; from Philadelphia, where his father, Ed Clowney, was professor in theology; from Amsterdam where he studied and met Tessa; from Francis Schaeffer and Hans Rookmaaker and ways of thinking about art and faith that were unfamiliar and highly creative.

Outstandingly for me, Paul was a maker. He knew how to make things that worked and fix them when they didn’t. He was a person who either understood or was so curious about objects that they would eventually reveal their secrets to him. If you were ever going to be stranded on a Pacific island with nothing to eat but coconuts, you would surely want Paul with you, because he would put Robinson Crusoe to shame for inventiveness.

Paul is the only person I know who would bring a set of chisels with him on a weekend break to Lyme Regis. He used them to crack open rocks on Lyme’s Jurassic beach and expose fossils which last saw the light of the sun 180 million years ago. He was a magician of that sort of thing.

Roey and I first met Paul and Tessa in 1978 when they invited us to one of their ‘Art at Home’ exhibitions at their home in Ealing. They had turned their home into a temporary gallery for an art show by painting the walls and removing all the internal doors. We had just got engaged and were looking for somewhere to live, and they beguiled us into becoming their Ealing neighbours.

I can still see them both in that house’s conservatory, talking with friends under the leaves of their luxuriant vine while the music of Kate and Anna McGarrigle filled the house. And I can see Paul, with his long hair and dense moustache, sitting at the scoring end of a shuffleboard, offering encouragement and advice as I sent the pucks flying up the board.

I’ll always remember the beautifully calm and rational way he prayed grace before meals – prayers which were practical and simple, but borne out of a deep faith in the God who is there. Prayers which were a blessing not just of the food and wine on the table, but of us too.

I sit here now, writing these words after midnight, before I go to bed. I know Paul did this self same thing many, many times, because I used to call him at The Clearing House after midnight when I had a technical problem I couldn’t fix, and he would simply say, ‘Come on over.’

And I think: All Paul’s deadlines, all his to-do lists and client relationships, and all his after-midnight tasks are now done. His great project is completed. As it says: ‘Blessed are those who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours.’

And it also says this: ‘All you who, in life, have taken on you the cross as a yoke, and have followed Me through faith, draw near: Enjoy the honours and crowns which I have prepared for you.’

That is how I shall always think of Paul. My loved and honoured elder brother in faith.
Kathy Savage

One of my strongest memories of Paul dates back to the early ‘70s, just after he and Tessa met at the Free University in Amsterdam. Tessa was there to do a post-graduate history of art degree with the renowned Hans Rookmaaker; Paul was there as a G.I.(I think) after Vietnam. I vividly recall Paul telling me about the inaugural day of the university year, with the students gathered together in an auditorium. There was a beautiful, slim, vivacious girl with chestnut curls streaming down her back and a ray of sunlight from the windows resting on her. And he said to himself, “I’m going to marry that girl”. And of course he did, not without a lot of asking and a lot of patience on his part, and initially a deal of indecision on hers. I have not seen much of them since those Amsterdam days but it is clear that what they have built together over the ensuing decades is a testament to the rightness of his first impulse. Vale Paul, and very much love and admiration to Tessa.
Kathy Savage (Pearcy), Queensland Australia
Don Beebe

Phil-Mont Christian Academy is both humbled and pleased to have been a part of Paul’s life. To hear and read of his life demonstrates he was a man who impacted his culture. Our prayers for the family on this day of memorial service and for the days of transition ahead. Blessings.
Don Beebe
philhill1

As a former colleague from the 70s in UCCF, I salute Paul’s memory and send my heartfelt sympathies to Tessa. Good memories abound of times shared – friendship and hospitality with Paul and Tessa, hours of intellectual discussion but a lot of light-hearted fun, too – like the late night Diplomacy games a group of us played at UCCF staff conferences!
JP van Seventer

During my art school days in the nineties I lived with Paul and Tessa and interned at Paul’s company. Paul inspired me to think freely and have fun creating graphics on the computer or built crazy stuff in the toolshop. Paul also never stopped to amaze me about all the little facts he knew about how stuff is made. Paul, you inspired me to reflect our Maker in the way we make things.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Rich-Ward/603610085 Rich Ward

Paul gave me my first job. I was amazed at this one man whirl wind of creativity. He taught me about, typography, photography, illustration, graphic design, copy writing and the list goes on. He started me off in a 24 year love affair with Apple. He introduced me to commercial creativity. Paul was eccentric, determined, creative and inventive. He was a great family man and he also introduced me to his home, family life and the workshop in the garden.

There have only been a few people who I can honestly say influenced me radically in life and Paul was one. Of course you really only realise this years later. I was so glad to see him at his leaving party before Scotland and introduce him to my son. I was also glad to reconnect with Ben and Tessa.

I know I will see Paul again and we will be able to make things together.

I know he will be most missed by those close to him and for them I pray Gods love and peace.

Richard Ward.
Ann Brown nee Gough

We have not met for many years but I was very sorry to learn of Paul’s death. I was part of an art trip that he led to Amsterdam in the late 70s. I have several vivid recollections of that time – the wonderful group of creative people, my first encounter with Rembrandt’s Jeremiah mourning over Jerusalem, and Paul’s boundless enthusiasm. As we walked through the streets of Amsterdam, I remember his refrain, as he encouraged us to study the facades of the buildings, ‘Look up, look up!!’ When I am walking myopically through a beautiful city, I still find that I remind myself to ‘Look up, look up!’
Colinblack

Dear Tessa and family,
As a London student in the 70′s wrestling with my newly found Christian faith, Paul was there as the UCCF travelling arts secretary arriving at college on his noisy motorcycle. Helpful, understanding, incredibly patient and full of wisdom. I felt I could be transparent and honest about anything and he knew where I was coming from. Some people say that the problem with Christians is that you feel you’re being judged. That was never true with Paul. It was like he always saw the best in you and God’s potential for your life and creative output. I feel privileged to have known him. It was at the “Art at Home” exhibitions in the Clowney home in Ealing that I sold my first drawing. How proud I felt that someone had paid good money for something I had produced. I was pleased when you moved to Edinburgh and I saw more of Paul at Leith School of Art, as a student himself and helping them with animation projects. My lasting memory will be my last hospital visit and Paul giving me a full update of the workings of his colostomy bag as if it were his most recent art piece. You will be greatly missed my friend.

Colin [ and Sallie]
Erickm Birkett

Dear Tessa-

“Dear” through connections with Paul’s folks. At those times when the plane of our breathing/ pulsing intersected the breathless places. At Ed’s, and then Jean’s going hence away. I remember my words with the two of you, when we last met, on a Sunday A.M. Seeing your backs and calling to you about maybe having you with us in our small group that night, you said you’d not be present with us. “Departing too soon”, you said. I spoke of wanting to enjoy the “pleasure of your company.” A canned sort of phrase, but entirely apt seeming to me. Being with Paul on the occasions that I was, was indeed a pleasure– in darkly lit places–light just at the horizon and the farthest reaches of sight.

Love to you, love to all of you…

Erick Birkett (and Deborah) Charlottesville, VA
David

My brother Paul
Lived his life well, and finished it with a flourish. How I miss him! He was such a creative guy. As a child, if the language didn’t have a word to suit him, he would make a new one; if reality was misbehaving, he would make up stories to adjust it. Until the day he died, he was exploring, inventing, figuring out how things worked, and marveling at the world’s wonders. Suffering through the pains and indignities of his final illness, he still joked about the oddities of its progress, and proposed design changes to the portable kit that supplied his regular cocktail of palliative drugs. Imagining heaven (a favorite pastime, I gather), he looked forward to at least a billion-year tour of the body, to find out everything about it worked.
Paul loved putting his curiosity, inventiveness, and imagination to work. Some of it was pure fun: the snow slide that started on top of our garage in Willow Grove and wound all around the back yard, the flower-power paint job he gave to his Chevy Nomad station wagon, the illustrative “miracles” he performed for his wide-eyed Sunday School class years ago (the widow’s oil, Elijah on Mt. Carmel – don’t ask!). His cartoons, paintings and assemblages show the same wit and exuberance. So do his Rube Goldberg inventions, like the one using old projectors with colored LED lights to project images of bits of the world on a wall (you have to see it to get the full picture!). He loved to stop and wonder at such bits of the world, and bring them home, if they’d been discarded, to seek a new setting where they could strut their stuff. He could fix or build nearly anything, as all the places he lived and worked on attest.
Paul loved people. He loved their individuality and their unique stories; he loved it if he could help them grasp some of their own possibilities. He loved connecting them with each other. He made a big difference in a lot of lives, not least in the lives of his family.
I was so delighted, in the last few years, to see Paul and Tessa find a way to spend more time on the arts they so loved, first with Paul’s commute from London to Edinburgh for painting classes at LSA, then with their move to their wonderful Edinburgh flat. I’ve never seen them happier than last summer, when I visited them there, saw Tom, Hannah and Ben, and met Ari and Roland. Visiting their studios, wandering with Paul through the shops on the north shore of the Firth of Forth (the shops a bit oversold, the day marvelous), climbing Arthur’s seat with them, listening to their plans for the upcoming arts retreat they had planned, attending Hannah’s engagement party, it was so clear they were where they belonged. Paul was in his element, and making a happy difference in the lives of many around him. It was such a short final flourish for him, but such a wonderful one!
I’m so thankful for the brother God gave me! As I grieve his passing, it’s sure easy to echo the heavenly “well done, Paul!”

Love to all – and you too, Paul!
David
Steve Turner

Dear Tessa,
I only just got news of Paul’s death. I remember when Norman Stone and I were living in Buckingham Palace Road and Paul being excited that his new girlfriend (you!) was arriving in England. He was so proud to introduce you to us and bring you into his London world. I always thought that Paul had a rich and integrated life. He was fascinating to talk to because he had such a keen mind and together with you he was able to create an existence that displayed all that God wanted him to be. Anyone believing that “all Christians are boring” should have met Paul. i remember meeting up with you both in Philadelphia during one of my American tours and going to the Brandywine Museum to see Andrew Wyeth’s paintings. I regret that we lived so close to each in London in London but saw so little of each other.
Love
Steve Turner
Laura Antebi

Dear Tessa and family,
I was a student at LSA in the same year as Paul and will always remember his generosity of spirit, his brilliant sense of humour and words of encouragement. It was a wonderful time and Paul’s energy and creativity that he shared so whole heartedly made that time all the more special and memorable.
With deepest sympathy and good wishes,
Laura Antebi
Marijke Lewis – v d Zeyde

Tessa, Ben,Ari, Hannah,Roland and Tom – how sad I am to read of Paul’s passing! It is almost imaginable that the ‘Beatle mop’, the moustached, guitar wielding artist/philosopher/friend/flat mate – and fellow ‘Rookie -ite’ of the 70s, is no longer with us! Unbelievable! May you, however, really feel the presence of God in your loss and sadness – that you may experience Grace as real, comforting and uplifting and remaining with you on this new journey without Paul. I hope also that the thought that he is reunited with his very special father, Edmund – and other members of his family – gives you a lift and it may comfort as you imagine him totally healed, whole, happy and, of course, playing his guitar! With much love and fondest memories from Marijke Lewis – v d Zeyde
Susie Johnston

I knew Paul so fleetingly yet feel blessed to have been one the artists who were so warmly welcomed into the October Croatia residency in 2011 by both Tessa and Paul. I spent many wonderful and stimulating hours in the workshop listening and participating in incredible conversations which Paul gave his everything to and threw amazing light on. I observed over the days his attention to detail, his interest in and love of life and everything that was being produced during the week and his love of objects and things was ever apparent. His unswerving support to all of us who were wrestling with the ups and downs of being an artist and how to define our practice never went unnoticed. The warmth, love and respect that he and Tessa shared for each other was always very evident and I feel such sadness to think he is not here anymore. Thank you for your generosity Paul. Love Susie
Nicholas Perrin

I confess I have been thinking about Paul and logging into his website ever since I found out about his death, which took place about a month ago now. On reflection, I realize that I have found the very thought of writing this to be rather daunting on two counts. First of all, because my friend Paul led such a rich and variegated life, I feel that it would be extremely hard to summarize all that he was. Second, he was also so young at heart that I’m still getting my head around (a favorite phrase of Paul’s) his no longer being here. For me, to think of Paul as dead is to imagine someone who was cut down in his youth, even though he was sixty-six.

For Paul, life was like a piece of art. It was given by God to us and it was there for our shaping and sculpting. The result, in the best of scenarios, was to be nothing less than a thing of beauty. I knew this from my countless conversations with him. My best memories of Paul are the late nights we would heat up some coffee grounds and chat in the carriage house, home at the time to RedWing Animation, attached to the church in West Ealing – in an interestingly cluttered office line with a climbing wall. I was a fellow elder with him at IPC and there was always much to talk about. What should we do as a church? How should we do worship? How shall we not do worship? What kind of outreach possibilities were there? How should we go about solving this problem or that conflict? Lots of questions, lots of interesting discussions. But then there were personal issues: God, family life, art, politics – you name it. Through it all I knew I was in contact with a man of entrepreneurial spirit and deep aesthetic sensibilities (to the point sometimes of perfectionism); he was a man who loved God, the church, and his family. Paul and I enjoyed real fellowship in those days.

Then there was the occasional Sunday afternoon dinner at the Clowneys. Who can forget their big dinner-table in the eating areas attached to the kitchen? Paul and Tessa were such gracious hosts together – what a team. Who knows how many countless folks they ministered to at that table. I know that Tessa’s ministry will go on, but I know she will miss Paul too.

Of course, we will see him again on the resurrection day. New body and all. We all look forward to that day. I wonder if there will be a new Star Maths project for Paul to work on: I assume we will be learning a new math for a new multi-dimensional universe but I may be wrong. I am sure there will be no shortage of things for Paul to put his hand to. He was just that kind of man who loved a project. Paul was God’s project, God’s masterpiece.
Michael Garaway

I have only just learned of Paul’s passing. I’m grateful for his stable wisdom and insight shared with me while I was a faltering fine art student at Manchester, and also for being able to take part in the house exhibitions in Ealing in 1981. With love from Michael Garaway.
Richard Ward

Yesterdays memorial service for Paul made me realise how much of Paul’s DNA has remained with me since the our few short years working together. He mentored me as a graphic designer and inspired me into photography, collecting weird things no one else wanted and always looking for the creative option. After leaving Paul’s company at The Clearing House I lived but never worked in Ealing again. Ironically on the 1st October I will start my own company in Ealing and Paul is the first person I would tell “Paul I’m back”. The one thing that stuck in my mind from the service was Paul the creative servant and that is no bad foundation for something new.

Thank you for such a fitting and inspiration memorial service to Paul.
Mal Grosch

The writer Zola in his book the Debacle writes of the French soldiers dying from their wounds in the Franco Prussian war being berated by an officer to ‘die like men.’
Yesterday, I went to the memorial service of a man I had not seen for a long time who had been seriously ill for a long period and eventually passed away. He was in his early sixties.
The tributes made me think how well he had lived and how well he had died.
A pastor declared how he had lived and died a Christian. It was not the usual tribute cobbled together by the family and read out by a minister who had not even met the deceased.
Two things struck me. His children said how he had been a friend and a father. He had left his children prepared for the world and with a positive image of a father not as a tyrant or conversely just a ‘money tree.’ If they choose to follow the Christian faith it is their own decision but they can not say they wanted for guidance or an example.
The other thing I heard was that in his last days the man listened to hours of tapes by a favourite preacher. The dying man was preparing for eternity not reminding himself of his achievements or bewailing lost opportunities. I have spent time with people who realise they are very ill and I have known some who want to quickly finish off a project or make sure their possessions go to the right place. This man did make arrangements for his projects to be stored but he also made arrangements for others to benefit by them.
An old mystic I once read said we should not run from the time left and try and do as much as we can but rather we should advance towards it.
Thomas Gray’s elegy of a country churchyard tells of what a great leveler death is. The poor, the unknown and famous all lie in the same patch of earth. I like to think this verse describes Paul Clowney.

Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere
Heaven did a recompense as largely send:
He gave to Misery all he had, a tear
He gained from Heaven ( ‘twas all he wished ) a friend
Stafford lawrence

I’ve only just got news of Paul’s passing, the day after his memorial. but I wanted to say what a pleasure it was to know him.
Paul gave me my first break into animation and it was a real privelege to have worked with him. All these years later, I’m still animating, having brought many of the lessons I learned from working at Redwing with me.
But so much more importantly, it was great to be with such a kind, generous and creative person.
He was always so very patient, attentive and inspiring. I’m still in awe of the wonderful wooden sculpture he had up in the front room of the house incorporating boxes, trinkets and instruments. Art and craft perfectly fused.
Paul was a truly positive and benevolent force and I feel so grateful to have known him.
Thinking of you Tessa and the family.
Thanks for everything Paul.

Stafford
Dick Goodwin

For Paul:
“And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before. “
C S Lewis

For Tessa and family:
“Grief is not a problem to be cured, it’s a statement. A statement that you love somebody.”
Barbara Baumgardner in A Passage Through Grief

For me:
Hearing about Paul’s life and especially towards its close in this chapter I am exhorted and encouraged to guard my heart until the end. Thank you Paul.
Graham and Sandra Worden

We remember those wonderful art exhibitions when you opened your house in Ealing, removing all the doors so that people could move around more freely.
Your Shuffleboard; which still has pride of place in our home where visitors are often intrigued by it and love to play it.
That calendar which you produced. One of the illustrations on the calendar I will always remember is of a dinner party and one person is talking about his faith. The other guests are looking at him with many different expressions on their faces ranging from incredulous to possibly one person with a look of understanding. I wish we still had a copy (perhaps we should look in our loft!).
It was good to attend the memorial service and learn so much more about Paul, Tessa and the family.
Mara Thompson

So sorry for your loss. Just saw a piece of art by him on the FB… totally amazing.
Dawnovakovic

Paul, you were a great and an amazing man!!!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1378273777 Robert Kyle Baker

Sorry for the late post but just heard this morning. Will always fondly remember Paul painting the top of his station wagon paisley and playing guitar at Gordon College–a kind, gentle man.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1378273777 Robert Kyle Baker

Sorry for the late post but just heard this morning. Will always fondly remember Paul painting the top of his station wagon paisley and playing guitar at Gordon College–a kind, gentle man.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1378273777 Robert Kyle Baker

Sorry for the late post but just heard this morning. Will always fondly remember Paul painting the top of his station wagon paisley and playing guitar at Gordon College–a kind, gentle man.
Jim (Bushman) Seidel

I was a friend and classmate of Pauls at Gordon. There are so many great memories. Paul would let me borrow the Paisley Chevy to go on dates. Also the trips into the Family lounge with a car full of dorm mates and hours watching Paul work on a project.
Gustavo Sanchez-Perez

Really shocked when I recently heard the news from a colleague at the time (Stafford Lawrence).
I had the joy of working with Paul on my first London job at Redwing Animation back on the year 2000.
Paul made me feel at home all the time, and I always admired his devotion to help others.
My most sincery thoughts to Tessa, his sons and all friends and family.

Thanks Paul for being like you were.
Truly missed.
wojtek rusin

I would like to say a big thank you. If not You probably would not come back to my art work. Big Thnx Paul !!!!
Gareth Lewis

You will not remember me but I worked with Paul when on staff with UCCF and remember visits to his home and his most charming wife Tessa. Gracious, kind and tender to me when I was at my most irritating I have fond memories of the warm welcome, delicious food, endless games of shuffleboard , walls full of wooden sculpture and that moustache !

Jesus Christ takes all the guess work of what happens at such times as death, and as Paul and the family are convinced of the resurrection to eternal life that Jesus brings then nothing could be of more importance for us to know.

Gareth Lewis
Christchurch, Harpenden