The second edition brings up to date Finlay's career and adds two new chapters. MSNBC March 28, 2006 Ian Hamilton Finlay, one of Scotland's best known artists, died Monday. He was 80. Finlay, whose work included sculpture, poetry and philosophy, died peacefully at a nursing home in Scotland after a long illness, said Victoria Miro, a spokeswoman for his gallery in London. The artist's relationship with nature lay at the heart of his work, and his most famous legacy is "Little Sparta," the garden of his farmhouse at Stonypath in Dunsyre, Scotland, southwest of Edinburgh. Finlay moved to Stonypath in 1966 and set about transforming the plot into a neoclassical sculpture garden. Every surface, from benches to headstones and obelisks, is inscribed with his words. Stonypath was recently voted the greatest Scottish artwork of all time and it remained Finlay's home until his death. Last month, Finlay's work was included in the Tate Triennial, a major survey of contemporary British art. "Ian Hamilton Finlay made a unique contribution to the art of our time through his creation of the garden, 'Little Sparta' at Stonypath near Edinburgh," Tate director Nicholas Serota said. "In his work as a philosopher, poet and sculptor, he reinvigorated the classical tradition in art. His works combine beauty and precision in a celebration of the relationship between man and nature." Born in 1925 in Nassau, Bahamas, Finlay moved to Edinburgh in 1950. He was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1985 and awarded a Commander of the Order of British Empire, or CBE, in 2002. Last year, his 80th birthday was marked by a major exhibition, "Sentences," at Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. A permanent installation by the artist can be seen in the grounds of London's Serpentine Gallery and his works are included in the Tate Collection. No information was immediately available about Finlay's survivors or funeral and memorial plans. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.