Neighbours of pensioner Gordon Jenkins knew he liked to paint, but had no idea until after his death that he had a collection of
more than 300 works of art at his Hengrove home. The 88-year-old never thought his work was worth anything during his lifetime, but after his death in November last year, the true extent of his talent was unveiled. Now his good friend Jill Harris is organising an exhibition entitled Sunlight on Water to celebrate the work of Mr Jenkins and his wife Janet, who died in 1973. Ms Harris, of Hengrove, had known Mr Jenkins, of Petherton Gardens, for 20 years, as he was one of her mother’s neighbours. She told the Evening Post: “He would have been amazed at the interest in his art. He would have thought there was nothing to bother about. “At his funeral, people from all parts of his life &ndash his neighbours, his acting friends and his family and friends &ndash came together. Everybody was so fond of him. Everyone wanted to retell his stories, but there wasn’t time. “It would be terrible to just disperse of a lifetime’s work.”
Among the huge collection of watercolours, oil paintings and sketches are scenes from across the South West, including Devon and Cornwall.