The Flip Of A Coin | Winston Hassall

THE FLIP OF A COIN

An article from our new 2025 Perry Magazine (Issue 63) about the artist Winston Hassall, who is featured on the front cover.

When looking to build a new life, Winston Hassall flipped a coin over a world map. The coin landed on Malta and an inspiring journey began.

Winston Hassall, an English painter who moved to Malta over four decades ago, was known for his paintings of Malta’s scenery, frequently exhibiting his works alongside other distinguished local artists including Isabelle Borg, Debbie Caruana Dingli and Madeleine Gera. In 1995, he opened Studio 47, a Valletta art gallery and studio where he exhibited several works of friends and collaborators, as well as his own paintings. Hassall also frequently contributed works to charitable causes, working with the Community Chest Fund for several years and collaborating with the Hospice movement. He famously presented his painting of Marsaxlokk Bay to Cherie Blair, wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony, during her visit to Malta in 2009.

Before moving to Malta, Hassall worked as a textile artist in England and Ireland. In comments given to Times of Malta, Hassall’s daughter Diane said that his connection to Malta began in 1979 when looking to build a new life away from his homeland after a failed marriage, he flipped a coin over a world map, pledging to travel to wherever it fell. The coin landed on Malta and his fate was sealed. By the following year, he was living in Malta and happily married to his wife Mary, with whom he would have two children. Shortly after first moving to Malta, he spent some time in Libya working in the oil industry. He then returned to Malta, where he would spend the rest of his years.

Front cover painting by HASSALL, WINSTON (1949-2024) St Edward’s College Chapel, Malta (2022) Watercolour (33cmx52cm). Private collection – Malta.

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