Mere Sands Wood in West Lancashire to host exhibtion tribute to artist Eileen Hill

Apr 19 2012 by Michael Byrne, Ormskirk Advertiser

AN ARTIST’S love of a Lancashire nature reserve is reflected in her paintings which are being sold to benefit the wildlife sanctuary more than a year after she died.

An exhibition of the work of Eileen Hill is being held at Mere Sands Wood, a Lancashire Wildlife Trust reserve in Rufford, until May 14.

Eileen died, aged 96, in November, 2010, after spending much of her life painting or teaching art. Many of the paintings now on show feature local scenes.

Cousin Jenny Wardle said: “Eileen had many happy times sketching with friends here at Mere Sands, and in her will requested that her work should be displayed here and sold for the benefit of the centre.” She spent the first half of her life in Blundellsands and the latter part in Churchtown. She started painting at the age of five and continued until a month before she died.

Amazingly, Eileen only had any formal training after she had finished caring for her parents when she was in her 50s. She then used her skills to benefit others by volunteering to run an art course at the Centre for Disabilities in Southport. She continued this into her 80s.

Eileen was presented with an Age Concern gold award for her services to the elderly in 1989 by Princess Diana.

Mrs Wardle said: “The staff and volunteers at Mere Sands Wood were wonderfully helpful. That is why she loved it so much there.”

The exhibition can be seen at Mere Sands Wood every day except Friday, from 9.30am-4.30pm.