Care home resident has Christmas cards down to a fine art

David, who is a resident at Westlake House Care Home in Pondtail Road, Horsham, painted a trio of presents propped against a red post box, and the image was chosen by national care provider, Barchester Healthcare to appear on their Christmas card this year.

The sale of the cards will help raise money for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, which helps older people and other adults living with a disability in the UK by offering grants to improve independence, mobility and quality of life.

David’s daughters, Jan and Sue, are delighted that their dad has achieved this after a difficult time in his life.

Some of their earliest memories involve their dad sitting in the front room with his easel always angled in the far corner and facing the door. They do not remember the subjects of these pictures but the speed of him mixing his colours along with the smell of the linseed oil fascinated and intrigued them.

David had previously studied art at Birmingham University but his passion for the subject was interrupted by joining the RAF after which he focussed on becoming a pharmacist and his art was then purely a hobby. After a series of life limiting strokes 4 years ago David was left unable to walk or communicate and had to learn to use his left hand for the very basic of tasks. His physical needs were taken care of by visiting carers but day to day living was a massive struggle. Now at Westlake House he is taken good care of and with regular visits from local artist Ann Harris David has once again learned to put paint to paper and for the first time in his life not only has he won a competition one of his creations is now in print.

Liz Higson, general manager at Westlake House said: “I am thrilled that David’s artwork has been chosen for this year’s Christmas card. He is a real inspiration and we are so proud to have such talented residents at Westlake House.”

Report and picture contributed by Westlake House,