Jamshid MirFenderesky, an Iranian artist, philosopher and gallery owner who founded the Fenderesky Gallery in Belfast, has died aged 79.

MirFenderesky arrived in Belfast in 1968 to study at Queen's University. He completed a PhD there in 1975 on the subject of death and settled in the city after marrying Angela Eastwood.

In 1984 he opened the Fenderesky Gallery. The gallery became a meeting place for artists and collectors and exhibited work by several generations of Irish painters including Basil Blackshaw, David Crone and Paddy McCann.

MirFenderesky taught philosophy and classical guitar and performed on Iranian television in his early career. He received a Ramírez guitar from the Shah of Iran after a performance.

He remained in Belfast after the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq war and continued to live and work there for the rest of his life. His gallery operated through the later years of the Troubles.

MirFenderesky is survived by his wife Angela, children Mariyam and Amir, their partners, four grandchildren and his sister Talat.