Bryan Illsley obituary

Artist whose diverse and distinctive work included sculptures from found materials, jewellery, paintings and handmade booksBryan Illsley, who has died aged 86, challenged categorisation. A largely self-taught painter, sculptor, jeweller, printmaker, potter and poet, he was also the creator of informal and of limited-edition books, the latter in collaboration with the poet Christopher Reid. Illsley wanted above all to be seen as a painter, but to disregard his other activities would do him a grav