Hundreds of paintings by a man who called Derby home for 70 years have been found by his daughters scattered around his home – including 150 in the loft.
Now his rich archive of artwork which includes Derbyshire landscapes as well as atmospheric scenes captured on holidays in Scotland, Cornwall and Sussex are set to go to auction on May 31 to raise money for a charity which did much to help him, Derby’s Lilian Prime MS Centre.
It supported Hugh Penfold after he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system, just as he was retiring. It blighted the last 30 years of his life and eventually stopped him doing the thing he loved most – painting.
But that passion came to the fore with a vengeance following his passing at the age of 96 in late 2020. Sisters Sheena Penfold and Anne Morris had the difficult task of clearing their parents’ bungalow in Shelton Lock. Hugh’s wife Rita had died three years previously.
Though they were deeply aware of their dad’s devotion to painting nothing could have prepared them for the sheer volume of artwork they uncovered. Around 200 paintings came to light including 150 tucked away in the loft. Around 60 were framed. They included his final pieces depicting the couple’s garden in Shelton Lock. Sheena said: “He must have painted those for mum.”
The sisters gave family and friends the opportunity to choose a Hugh Penfold painting as a memento and have kept several themselves. But there are so many they have decided to offer his paintings at auction in a bid to raise money for MS.
“It’s our father’s legacy and we would like to use it to help others,” said Sheena.
Though Derby became his home, Hugh was born in West Chiltington, Sussex, in 1924 and started painting and drawing at a very young age, purchasing his first set of oil paints when he was working as a draftsman in London at the tender age of 16. That was quite a change for a youngster who had grown up in rural Sussex. Apparently, his father used to send him apples!
But life was soon to get harder still. In 1942, aged 18, he was conscripted into the Royal Airforce. There was little time to paint as he endeavoured to serve his country during the Second World War.
When the conflict ended Hugh studied at Worthing Art College for two years before moving to Portsmouth to work in advertising. It was there where he met and fell in love with leading Wren Rita Bradshaw who originated from Darley Dale, near Matlock. They married in 1950 and moved to Shelton Lock where they lived for the rest of their lives.
Derby provided Hugh with opportunities to put his artistic skills to good use in a practical way. He worked as a graphic designer, initially at Bemrose Advertising and then Product Support Graphics. He was involved in a diverse range of projects from producing instruction manuals for Rolls-Royce to creating technical illustrations for the original ‘The Times Atlas of World History’.
However, in his spare time he picked up his brushes and headed to his easel in his conservatory. Hugh was a true artist at heart. He painted prolifically throughout his adult life, predominantly in oils, sometimes exhibiting at Derbyshire galleries. He often painted commissions or gifts for family, friends and colleagues. His works were mostly landscape paintings of the places he and Rita loved to visit.
Tragically, in his mid-60s, just before his retirement in 1989, Hugh was diagnosed with MS. According to recent figures, more than 130,000 people are now living with the condition in the UK alone.
Fortunately, Hugh was able to continue to indulge in his passion for a further 10 years or so, until the early 2000s when poor dexterity and failing eyesight meant he had to finally hang up his brushes. Nevertheless, he had produced around 60 years of magnificent work.
Hugh’s family would like his wonderful talent to be admired and enjoyed by others. Hansons are delighted to be presenting a collection of around 100 of Hugh’s oil paintings as part of the May 31 Fine Art and Collectors Auction at Bishton Hall in Staffordshire. All proceeds will go to the Lilian Prime MS Centre, which Hugh attended for many years.
We hope Hugh’s legacy will contribute towards helping the centre continue its great work in supporting and improving the quality of life for Derbyshire people affected by MS.
Please take some time to view Hugh’s paintings when the catalogue goes online at www.hansonslive.co.uk. Choose your favourites to bid on and hopefully acquire and enjoy to keep Hugh’s creative spirit alive.
To find out more about Hansons’ services, or to arrange a free valuations, please email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
