FOR decades, one of the darkest days in Renfrewshire’s history remained something of a taboo topic.

Many local people found the suffering caused by the Glen Cinema disaster, which claimed more than 70 young lives, made the terrible tragedy too painful to talk about.

In recent years, however, there has been a concerted effort to shine a light on the dreadful events of December 31, 1929, and make sure the victims are not forgotten.

Now a Johnstone-born artist has been commissioned to create a public artwork to remember the victims and survivors.

READ MORE: Glen Cinema survivors remember Renfrewshire’s ‘Black Hogmanay’

Kerry Stewart, 55, will work with American-born artist Rachel Lowther and local community groups to develop the tribute as a reminder of the lasting impact that Paisley’s ‘Black Hogmanay’ has had on Renfrewshire.

It is sure to be an emotional experience for Kerry, who first learned of the disaster when reading about the commission.

“I hope we can find a way to mark the Glen Cinema disaster in a way that resonates both with those closely linked to the events and to those more distant,” she told The Gazette.

“There are very powerful monuments to traumatic events around the world. I hope that, together, Rachel and I can achieve such a monument with this commission.”

Although she was born in Johnstone, Kerry spent most of her youth living in Uplawmoor and attended Uplawmoor Primary, Williamwood High and Eastwood High.

Her father worked at the Ciba-Geigy pigment manufacturing plant in Paisley.

Now living in London, Kerry is a lecturer in fine art at the University of Westminster but still comes ‘home’ regularly to see her family.

As an artist, she has created a variety of unique sculptures, including a snowbound car, identical twins and even Batman’s cape, which have been exhibited around the world.

The Glen Cinema artwork has been commissioned by Future Paisley and follows on from events to mark the 90th anniversary of the disaster.

Children had been enjoying a matinee movie at the Paisley cinema when a smoking film canister caused panic.

READ MORE: Renfrewshire community marks 89 years since the tragedy

The main exit was locked and this led to a deadly crush that left 71 children dead and more than 30 others injured.

Kerry and Rachel’s artwork will be unveiled at the end of this year, with its location not yet decided.

“The exact location depends on what artwork is chosen,” said Kerry.

“It will be decided once we have been in Paisley for a while and talked to people about what they think would be a good way of marking the tragedy.

“We have a number of ideas but want to talk to people to see what they feel.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond