A FAMILY has paid tribute to their unselfish, talented son who had a real passion for his career.

Artist Gideon Baws, 33, from Leigh, was part of Shynola – a hugely successful group of visual artists who made music videos for famous bands, short films like Disney’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and memorable adverts for big brand companies.

He died in hospital in Las Vegas after becoming unwell while on holiday with friends.

A post mortem gave the cause of death as myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, possibly due to a viral infection.

His grieving parents Tony, 68, Sue, 66, brother Sam and sister Lucy, are struggling to come to terms with their loss.

Mr Baws said: “It has come out of the blue.

“I spoke to Gideon at about 9am on Saturday and he said he had a bit of pain in his neck and stomach area.

“I asked him what he’d been up to and he said they’d done a bit of walking at the Hoover Dam and he thought he might have jarred himself when he slipped and fell on some loose stones.

“He said he was in a lot of pain and couldn’t sleep.”

The family then heard Gideon had been taken to hospital and was on a life-support machine.

They were making plans to fly out when they had a call at midnight telling them he had died.

Mr Baws of Elm Road said: “It’s a huge shock.

“He was at the end of a ten-day holiday and had been to a wedding.

“He was only 33 and very healthy. The doctors and nurses simply couldn’t save him.”

Gideon, together with Chris Harding, Richard (Kenny) Kenworthy and Jason Groves, made up Shynola, who won dozens of awards for their quirky and technical designs and works.

Sam, 28, said: “Queens of the Stone Age was probably their best known video. Shynola are hugely influencial.

“I moved in with Gideon at his flat in Hackney about six months ago to get my own artistic career moving and he was giving me lots of help and advice. He would always help anyone who needed it.”

Gideon was born in London and the family moved to Leigh in 1982. He then went to Leigh North Street School and Belfairs High School.

His parents say he was always artistic and had a real love of comics.

He studied at Southend Art School before getting a first class honours degree at the Kent Institute of Art and Design, where Shynola was formed.

Lucy, 25, said: “I’m massively proud of him. He always wanted to draw and illustrate and did well, even though the market was dying out and hard to get into.

“He developed a natural talent and with Shynola worked so hard. Even if you only met him for five minutes you liked him instantly. People loved him and it was an honour to know him.”

Gideon’s mum Sue added: “As his parents we knew he was talented, but to hear of their influence and status – we are only just beginning to get an inkling of it.”