Arts patron and flamboyant personality Doreen “Mac” Musson, one of the founders of what is today the Bermuda Society of Arts, has died at the age of 89.

A painter in her own right, Ms Musson helped establish the organisation, then known as the Society of Arts of Bermuda, with her husband Magnus Musson, who became captain of the iconic vessel the Queen of Bermuda.

Artist and reviewer Charles Zuill recalled her as “quite a character — flamboyant, fun”. She is survived by son John Musson and her daughter Deborah Hollis.

Ms Musson’s murals graced the walls of the Forty Thieves Club on Front Street, one of Hamilton’s famed nightspots, and she contributed her work to the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society’s programme covers. “I also knew her as the co-author of the book Bermuda’s Favourite Haunts, with John Cox,” Mr Zuill added.

“She illustrated it as well. For the first volume, they had my house in there as haunted.

“I told ‘Mac’ that I had never seen a ghost, although I said I was aware of doors slamming. She said ‘there you are!’ That was enough. I later realised that it was not coming from my house but the place next door. She was a good sport.”

He added that Ms Musson had involved herself in every aspect of local arts during a notable time for cultural pursuits.

“Looking back at that period, I think of it as a golden age for the arts in Bermuda,” Mr Zuill said.

Ms Musson later went on to serve as curator at the Bermuda Society of Arts.

Her creative flair found its way into her working life for such businesses as AS Cooper’s and the Perfume Factory, where she arranged window displays and advertising.

She also modelled for fashion designer Elspeth Gibson.

Her work with the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce included helping to organise the well-liked winter fixture Rendezvous Season, in which a regular weekly crafts market gave local artists to chance to showcase their wares.