Bob, who is 91-years-old, enlisted into the British Army in 1949 and served for two years before being discharged and signing up for the Territorial Army with whom he served for another 16 years.
His love of painting has been with him throughout his life. At the age of 49, Bob began to struggle with his eyesight and was diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes.
He can still see images, but they are blurred, and he is unable to read words, but he’s continued to paint and finds that it now helps to combat loneliness and helps to maintain his mental wellbeing.
Bob displayed around 100 of his watercolour paintings at an event in Bury St Edmunds.
Bob said:
“My love for art began at the age of five thanks to a particularly severe winter in around 1936. My Uncle Ted took us to the park to make a snowman and then suggested we make an igloo which collapsed on top of me and from then on, I didn’t like the snow!
“If we were sent out in it, I would hide in my sister’s room under a blanket with a pencil and draw.
“I now go to an art club, they sit me by the window so I have the bright light to help me and I can still enjoy all the beautiful colours I paint with. I enjoy painting lots of different things such as landscapes, animals, and buildings.
“My painting helps me by taking me away to somewhere else, many of my paintings are from photographs of past holidays and experiences and my artwork allows me to revisit those happy times.”
Bob has been supported by us since last year and has been provided with an Alexa and tablet device to help him carry out day-to-day tasks.
He said:
“I really enjoyed the event and talking to people about my artwork. I believe about £150 was raised on the day from the sale of my paintings and of Brian’s photographs.”
Like
Comment
Share