Aileen Paterson


Aileen Francis Paterson MBE was a Scottish writer and illustrator, best known for her series of children's books about Maisie MacKenzie, the kitten.

Biography

Aileen Paterson was born in the Fife town of Burntisland to William and Helen Henderson. As a child, she moved to Kirkcaldy, before gaining a place at Edinburgh Art College in 1951, where she specialised in pottery. She gained a diploma in designs and craft in 1955 and worked at the Portobello potteries in Edinburgh.
After marrying her first husband, Bayo Ayodeji, in 1955, she moved to Dublin, Ireland. After the marriage ended in divorce, Paterson moved back to Kirkcaldy and earned an education qualification in 1962. She worked as an art teacher in Fife in the 1960s.
For most of her adult life, she lived in Edinburgh and was a passionate supporter of that city. She worked as an art teacher between the 1960s to 1980s.
The title of her first book, Maisie Comes to Morningside, was inspired by the American crime writer Chester Himes' book Cotton Comes to Harlem.
Maisie Mackenzie, the heroine of Paterson's series of children's books, wears a kilt and Fair Isle jumper and lives in Morningside, a suburb of Edinburgh. Maisie is a brave, adventurous kitten exploring a world that ultimately reinforces the good things in life such as friendship, food, fun, community and football. The wit and finely tuned social observation engages adults as much as children.
Maisie's world is almost entirely populated by cats, so that although there is a belligerent budgie and the occasional horse, there are no dogs or humans. However, Maisie's adventures take place in real places such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paris, and New York. Maisie Bites the Big Apple features the Marc Chagall murals in the Metropolitan [Opera House (Lincoln Center)|Metropolitan Opera House].
Paterson's final book in the series sees Maisie investigating strange goings-on in Edinburgh's Botanic Gardens.
In 2011, Lothian Buses made Maisie the face of the Number 5 bus, which goes through the character's home district of Morningside.
Several stories were also turned into an animated series called Meeow! starring Stanley Baxter.

Death and legacy

Paterson died on 23 March 2018 at the age of 83.
Following her death in 2018, a memorial stone featuring an image of 'Maisie of Morningside' was raised in Edinburgh's Grange Cemetery, on the site of her son Max's burial plot. The grave lies in the enclosed modern section to the west of the main cemetery.

Awards and honours

In the 2015 Birthday Honours, she was awarded an MBE for services to children's literature.

Selected works

  1. Maisie comes to Morningside
  2. Maisie goes to Glasgow
  3. Maisie's Mystery Tour
  4. Maisie Meets her Match
  5. Maisie in London
  6. Maisie and the Monster
  7. Little Marco
  8. Maisie goes to School
  9. Maisie and the Space Invader
  10. Maisie and the Posties
  11. Maisie's Festival Adventure
  12. Maisie Loves Paris
  13. Maisie goes to Hospital
  14. Maisie's Colouring Book
  15. What Maisie did Next
  16. Maisie in the Rainforest
  17. Maisie and the Puffer
  18. The Pigs of Puddledub
  19. Maisie Digs up the Past
  20. Maisie at the Edinburgh Book Festival
  21. Maisie Goes to Hollywood
  22. Maisie's Merry Christmas
  23. Maisie's Second Colouring Book
  24. Maisie's Fun and Games Activity Book
  25. Children's Guide to Edinburgh
  26. Maisie and the Pirates
  27. Maisie's Millennium Calendar
  28. Maisie Jumps into Japan
  29. Maisie Bites the Big Apple
  30. Maisie and the Abominable Snowcat
  31. Maisie and the Botanic Garden Mystery
  32. Maisie's Botanic Activity Book
Paterson also contributed to the following anthologies:Braw Stories
  • ''Scottish Summer Schools''