Fife artist’s painted rock turns up in Romanian second-hand shop

Pat Anthony paints rocks and leaves them at beauty spots around the town for children to find when out walking, such as West Sands or Craigtoun Park.

However, she was stunned when a Facebook post stated that a painted rock showing a St Andrews scene had been discovered in a second-hand shop in Romania.

“I recognised it straight away as one of mine,” Pat said.

“I thought ‘wow’ – one of my stones is in Romania. It is unbelievable. Tourists come here around the world so you never know where the rocks are going to end up.”

Pat usually paints scenes of the town, as well as children’s characters, such as Peter Rabbit, which they can go looking for when out in the town.

“The reason I mainly do paintings of St Andrews is so if a visitor finds it they’ll have something to remember the town by.”

The 79-year-old St Andrean, who has been back in the town for the last 26 years, started painting for her fellow nurses while working in a Derby hospital.

Her daughter then urged her to start painting rocks instead. While she has painted any rocks during lockdown, Pat is eager to start up again soon.

“My daughter said that it was therapeutic,” Pat said.

“I used to do oil paintings but I find this a bit easier.

“I enjoy the painting and find it relaxing.

“I wish more people would take it up.

“It’s good fun and you see some beautiful ones that real artists do.”

Pat is one of the thousands of members of a Fife Facebook group for people who paint rocks or discover them out on their walks.

For more information about painting rocks in Fife, visit www.facebook.com/groups/255125221649659.