A businessman who lived a life of adventure introduced the fine artistry of Zimbabwean stone sculpture to Bermuda in the 1980s.

Colin “Dusty” Michael Hind, who owned and founded the Crisson & Hind African Gallery, was a longtime trustee of the Bermuda National Gallery.

Mr Hind also enjoyed theatre acting. When he moved to Bermuda in the early 1960s and became a police officer, he set up the Police Drama Group with a fellow officer, the late Ron Shelley.

After settling on the island, Mr Hind left the police service and launched Aardvark Advertising, a respected agency that ran for more than 30 years.

He also founded the Jabulani Repertory Company with Patricia Pogson-Nesbitt. Together they produced more than 20 shows.

Driven by his past experiences, Mr Hind also took time to lend a compassionate, listening ear to those battling alcohol addiction.

His wife, Barbara O’Shaughnessy-Hind, described him as “epic”.

“He was so passionate about whatever he was doing,” she said.

Mr Hind was born in Skegness, England, in a Butlin’s camp that had been converted for use by the Royal Navy. His expectant mother visited his father, who was stationed there, from her home in the South Coast town of Portsmouth. Dusty made his first appearance into the world during her stay.

His son, Mike Hind, joked that only his dad could have been born at such an inconvenient time.

He was swiftly moved back to Portsmouth, where he was raised.

He was a talented artist and earned a degree in art and sculpture at the Portsmouth College of Art and Design, which is where he was given the nickname “Dusty”.

As a result of his work in sculpture, “he was always covered in dust”, Mrs O’Shaughnessy-Hind said with a smile.

The name stuck for life.

Mr Hind studied speech and drama while at college and took up acting roles to help fund his studies in sculpture.

Mrs O’Shaughnessy-Hind said: “He got into the whole theatre world. He did everything, which I guess is why he was so good with Jabulani — he had been there and done that.”

The police group put on shows at the newly built City Hall in Hamilton. Roger Sherratt, a former chief inspector, wrote a detailed history of the group with Mr Hind’s assistance.

In it, he tells how Mr Hind and Mr Shelley “hatched a publicity scheme” to attract a bigger audience for one production. They wrote a letter to The Royal Gazette condemning the “rude language, violence and unpleasant themes” during its dress rehearsal and the letter prompted several strongly worded responses in support of the play.

Mr Sherratt wrote: “The controversial, albeit contrived publicity, along with good reviews in the newspapers, had the desired effect and the next two nights were practically sold out.”

It was in 1983 that Mr Hind was taken aback by a Senufo mask at the newly opened Rockefeller Wing in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The mask was made from an assortment of natural materials along with “sacrificial” components.

“I had an overwhelming sense of ignorance and yet the object exuded power and mystery,” he told the BNG in a 2022 interview.

He was consumed by the exhibits and after the museum closed for the evening, he made his way to the Wright Gallery on Broadway, which still had its lights on. He was delighted to discover it was crammed with African tribal art. It was there he bought his first piece — a Baule mask that remained his favourite.

It began his 40-plus year journey as a collector of art from the African continent.

It was around this time that Mr Hind met Barbara O’Shaughnessy. They married in 1986 and made a pact that they would always have adventures.

They visited Africa dozens of times, collecting pieces they loved along the way.

Ms O’Shaughnessy-Hind recalled: “That sealed our relationship with Africa. It’s when we first saw the fine art as opposed to street art and that sort of thing. It was very different and fresh. We met all the artists and it opened a new window.”

Mr Hind became close friends with many of the artists, including one of his best friends, Jonah Runyanga.

Mr Hind brought the first exhibition of African art to the BNG in 1993 and oversaw the purchase of its permanent collection in 1996.

Gary Phillips, the BNG chairman, said: “Bermuda’s forest of cultural and artistic icons has been stripped of one of its mightiest trees.

“We pause to salute Dusty, who will always be remembered as BNG's conscience — one who never ceased to fuel our imagination to be the very best art museum in Bermuda and to be fully representative of all of Bermuda's people. Out of this vision, our prized African Collection was born.”

In 1999, Mr Hind opened the Crisson & Hind African Gallery, specialising in the Shona art movement, one of the most important to come out of sub-Saharan Africa in the second half of the 20th century.

The gallery remains open at 1 Queen Street, Hamilton, upstairs from The Bermuda Bookstore.

Mr Hind leaves behind his wife, Barbara, sons Mike and Peter Hind from a previous marriage, and three grandchildren.

There will be a celebration of Mr Hind’s life on March 29 from 4pm to 6.30pm at the Bermuda National Gallery in City Hall. The family tribute will be at 4.30pm.

Colin Michael “Dusty” Hind, businessman, art collector,was born on August 13, 1941 and died on February 24, 2025 aged 83