An 85-year-old woman with dementia becomes star lockdown artist - and her Milton Keynes family never even knew she could paint

Great grandmother Beryl Wall’s vibrant paintings of flowers have become an internet sensation, with more than 32,000 likes on a global Facebook group’s page.

Yet her Milton Keynes family had no idea she was capable of producing such work and say she has never, to their knowledge, painted a picture in her life.

Daughter Wendy Thompson said: “Mum’s ability to paint was a revelation to us. For me, it’s one of the most positive things to have come out of lockdown.

“None of her family had any idea she was artistic and, to be honest, I don’t think mum did either. In fact, she forgets she’s done them once they’re finished.”

Beryl’s artistic flair was discovered after Lu Lawrence, a member of staff at her care home in Flitwick, suggested she give it a try.

Wendy said: “It came about because I was struggling to communicate with mum during lockdown.

“Normally I would visit her in person and hold her hand and that was fine, but trying to keep her engaged during Skype calls was proving difficult.

“That’s when Lu came up with the idea of us painting together during a Skype call. I’d had more time to paint during lockdown and was showing mum my paintings, and we noticed how it sparked her interest.

“It was just so beautiful and amazing to see the way she took to it. I was blown away with how focused she was and how she concentrated on all the detail."

Wendy added: “When we’re painting together, we talk about what we're doing and about the colours we're choosing – it’s a real conversation which isn’t normally possible anymore.

“What's even more important is that while she is painting and producing a piece of artwork she is having a happy, positive experience. Even though the conversation details may be forgotten within a short while, I know that this positive experience will last a long time."

Wendy posted some of Beryl’s paintings on the ‘Rock The Lockdown’ Facebook group, which has followers worldwide. They have received more than 32,000 likes, as well as over 5,000 comments and 2,000-plus shares.

There are even plans for Beryl and Wendy’s paintings to be shown together at an exhibition at the Westbury Arts Centre when the lockdown is over, with the aim of raising funds for dementia charities including Alzheimer’s Society.

There are 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, and the condition is the UK’s biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes.

Zena Jones, Community Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society, said: “This is a truly remarkable story and we can’t thank Wendy enough for drawing it to our attention.

“It’s also wonderful that they are planning to fundraise for charities including Alzheimer’s Society once the lock down is over."

“Right now, people living with dementia need our support more than ever because of how hard the coronavirus pandemic has hit them.

“Since the lockdown began our trained staff have made more than 110,000 welfare calls to people with dementia and their carers to offer support, information and to reassure them that they are not alone. Every penny raised by our dedicated fundraisers is helping us to continue this vital work.”