Young artist's unfulfilled dream drove her to despair and suicide

A talented young artist killed herself when she became depressed at her failure to achieve her ambition of becoming an illustrator.

Zoe McGinty, 26, who had a first-class honours degree in fine art, hanged herself at her flat in Liverpool, an inquest was told. The Portsmouth University graduate had cherished hopes that her passion for painting could grow into a full-time career.

She embarked on a one-year master's degree from Brighton University but dropped out after six months because she missed her family in Cheshire.

Ms McGinty moved to Liverpool 18 months ago and took a job as a waitress in a bistro to pay the bills while she looked for an opening in the art world. But she remained stuck in the job for 18 months, during which time she became increasingly depressed about her prospects.

Such was her distress that she tore up most of her paintings, save for a few that her sister Lauren, 17, and brother Tom, 20, managed to stow away without her knowledge.

Ms McGinty's mother, Angela Hughes, 44, said: "She was very close to her brother and sister. When she was living away she would say on the phone how she missed all the stories and the things going on in the family."

A month before her death in May, Ms McGinty tried to kill herself with an overdose of anti-depressants. Her mother and stepfather, David Hughes, 46, became so concerned they asked her to move in with them at their home in Widnes.

Mrs Hughes told the inquest this week: "We just did not see it coming, I still don't know why. She had everything going for her but did not know what to do with her life.

"She was beautiful, talented, clever and quick-witted and had lots of friends, but her confidence had gone. We loved her and she did know that; I told her every day and hugged her every day.

"She wanted to paint for a living but could not land that dream job. Everyone tried to help her but she hated the thought of working in an office and couldn't get her head around it."

On 28 May this year, Ms McGinty had arranged to have dinner with her parents, but when she failed to turn up, her stepfather called at her flat in the Toxteth district of Liverpool while her mother waited in the car outside.

Mr Hughes said: "We'd spoken to her the night before and arranged to have dinner together. When she didn't turn up I went to her flat and let myself in with a spare set of keys.

"When I walked into her living room there she was, hanging. I'll never forget that sight for the rest of my life.

"We knew she was a bit down but none of us expected her to do anything like this. It was a terrible shock and has really hit me hard."

Mr Hughes called the emergency services but Ms McGinty was dead when they arrived.

Her mother told the hearing: "She was so beautiful, although she never used to think so. She rarely wore make-up and bought most of her clothes from Oxfam on principle but still had boys chasing after her.

"Even at her graduation ceremony she was wearing her baseball boots with her gown. Everyone tutted but that was Zoe and it didn't matter because we loved her and wanted her to just be happy. We can't believe she's gone."

After her death friends sent cards and flowers, but her parents asked people to donate money so they could set up a permanent tribute. So far more than £1,000 has been raised and they are considering setting up an art prize in her memory.

Simon Holder, Liverpool assistant deputy coroner, recorded a verdict that Ms McGinty killed herself while suffering from depression.