ANTHONY Hodge, who has died at the age of 60, was one of the Five Valleys' best known artists whose charismatic oil paintings exuded warmth, humour and vitality.

Speaking to the SNJ this week, friends described Anthony, who lived in Horsley, as having 'a wonderful presence in the community' and said it was difficult for them to imagine the area without him.

Anthony was diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago and told he had just six months to live. He died on Wednesday, April 29.

Born in Bridgwater, Somerset on August 11, 1948, Anthony had two passions as a child - art and sport.

School reports described a pupil who was 'lively' and 'prodigiously erratic' and filled with original ideas.

A foundation course at Chelsea School of Art in London followed before he took a degree at Kingston School of Art and later a teacher training course in Brighton.

Although Anthony saw himself primarily as an artist, he enjoyed teaching and taught art at the old Highwood School in Nailsworth.

His main interest was in oil painting, mainly landscapes, seascapes, still life and portraits.

It was in 1979 that he met his wife Jessica while she was working as an arts administrator at South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell.

They went on to have two children Alice, 27, and Robin, 24.

Alice followed in her father's footsteps and now teaches art at Stroud College.

The family moved to Horsley in 1988, and Anthony became involves in many community activities.

He owned two galleries in Nailsworth, No 4 in Church Street and The Warehouse in Old Market.

His daughter Alice said: "My father was a great talker. He loved people, quirky characters and off the wall conversations."

Anthony had exhibited his paintings all over the country, including in London, Bath and Oxford and last year held an exhibition at The Space in Stroud called The Autumn of My Life.

Speaking to the SNJ at the time he said: "I want a shock. I want to delight myself as I have been delighted by great painters of the past.

“I don’t have fear about what people think about my work. I’m the only one who minds how it turns out, and it’s a very difficult thing to please oneself."

* Readers who wish to share their memories of Anthony Hodge and pay tribute to his work can do so here or by writing to the usual address.