A Warminster man has rediscovered a love of drawing and is creating powerful pencil portraits of fellow care home residents, following his diagnosis with dementia.
Philip Leevers, 81, has been an artist ever since he embarked on a course at the Royal College of Art in his twenties.
Over the years, he has worked as a painter, owned a ceramics business, and showcased a range of collages at Studio 3, Bull Mill Studio in Crockerton.
When Philip was diagnosed with dementia three years ago, his wife Joanna initially feared his passion for art would be lost as his memories faded.
But now, the artist has started experimenting with a brand-new style, creating pencil portraits of other residents at Henford House Care Home.
“He has taken to portrait drawing entirely out of the blue,” said Joanna, a fellow artist who first met Philip at life drawing classes. “His pieces are skilled and full of compassion.
“Once he gets started, it’s like magic. His hand glides over the paper.
“Sometimes Philip will sit people in the living room to do the portraits. He is very particular about the direction of the light – sometimes he can spend more time positioning someone in the correct light than doing the portrait itself.
“I’m so happy he’s doing this and has found a way to evolve his art style. We’ve had so many moving comments about his portraits.”
Staff at Henford House bring Philip supplies, and his portraits have become very popular among residents.
Philip said, “I think of art as the pursuit of truth. With a portrait, you become close to the person sitting and form a connection with them.
“I am aware of my dementia diagnosis, but it is often in the background. I suppose I have adapted.
“The process of creating my art is reasonably quick – it usually takes me about an hour to complete each one. The light is very important to me; I’ve got to be very careful with it.”
Philip says his inspirations from the art world include Matisse and many of the Impressionists.
This year, with the help of Joanna, Philip displayed five of his portraits at Studio 3, Bull Mill Studio during the Wylye Valley Art Trail in May.
As a result of this exposure, he recently received a commission from local resident Jennie Gilling, who sat for her portrait in June.
Jennie said, “I wanted to have a drawing by Philip, as there is another way of seeing someone – ageing isn’t kind in photographs!
“The repeated glancing up of the eyes and the, often, lively scratching of pencil replaced the single click of the camera. I do recognise myself and I felt his steady focus, but so much is in the eye of the beholder.”
To commission a piece by Philip, email joannasims68@yahoo.co.uk
