Lifetime of paintings sold for dementia

A heartbroken British artist who lost his wife to dementia is parting with his life’s work to help in the fight against the disease. But his selfless decision to sell his paintings is not only in memory of his wife Jean, but claims it is also dedicated to everyone living with the neurological disease.

The 78-year-old man, Wilson Smith, found comfort and solace in painting when Jean lost her battle to the illness three years ago, and he is now selling his entire collection of paintings to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

His collection of more than 60 pieces, mainly in oil, from landscapes and portraits to large abstract canvasses, and a series of copies of Toulouse-Lautrec’s work, will be on sale at the Painting for Alzheimer’s art-show in Bellingham this month.

Determined to raise desperately-needed funds for research into the disease, the grandfather-of-one has decided to part with the fruits of years of labour. Every single one of his paintings will be put up for sale.

“I felt helpless as Jean was gradually robbed of her precious memories and independence. Towards the end she couldn’t walk or talk and finally she couldn’t eat or drink – there was no way out,” Mr Smith says.

He says the sale of his paintings is dedicated to people living with the disease, and claims “every penny” raised will go to Alzheimer’s Research UK to help the organisation progress with their pioneering research.

Mr Smith took up painting as a boy, painting murals at his primary school in Epping. His talent as an artist was first noticed when he was just 11-years-old and he was presented by the school to the then British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, in 1943.

As well as working as a designer for the advertising industry, Wilson has produced all manner of paintings during his career – but claims he found a new lease of creativity following his wife’s illness. He says he will carry on painting and raising money for the charity.

“Words can’t describe how much I want to see new treatments and a cure for this disease,” Mr Smith says.

Miranda Mays, community fundraising manager for Alzheimer’s Research UK, says the money raised through the sale of Mr Smith’s paintings will pay for another “vital hour of research”, bringing researchers closer to finding ways to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

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