A ROOKSDOWN painter has been thanked for a kind-hearted gesture after he donated four paintings to a local care home.

Bobby Bartlett, 40, created four unique paintings for Barchester’s St Thomas’ Care Home, in St Thomas Close, depicting famous figures from some of the resident’s younger days.

Mr Bartlett decided to donate the images as his grandfather Alfie, 92, lives at St Thomas’ and wanted to give something back to the home that has looked after him so well.

The paintings are of legendary film stars John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe, former Prime Minister Winston Churchill and comedy duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

Mr Bartlett, who only started painting approximately two-and-a-half years ago, said: “Painting really is just a hobby for me, but when I was approached by the home to do them I just wanted to help out because of the support they give to my grandad.

“I had never been into a home before and when I came round for the first time to visit him it was a massive eye-opener and I thought these images could really brighten the place up and perhaps spark up some old memories and conversation for them.

“The people in the home are in their 80s so I wanted to paint people that they would remember from their older days.

“I’m really happy to help out because they do such fantastic work here.”

The pictures took Mr Bartlett around two weeks to complete and he has now completed 45 paintings, donating them to charity, friends and family.

Terri Philpotts, activities co-ordinator at St Thomas’, said: “The images are great to trigger reminiscence with our residents and it gives them a real focal point to start conversation with one another and their family and friends.

“The men absolutely love how beautiful Marilyn Monroe looks and are always commenting on her and we were so grateful that Bobby would do the pictures for us and also that he not only donated them, but donated his time to make them as well.

“These sort of pictures are really important for residents, especially those with dementia, as we are always trying to keep their minds stimulated and keeping them occupied because this reduces anxiety and depression.”