TEIGNMOUTH artist Des Maxwell Clark has been accepted by the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours for their annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London from May 20-29.

The painting has a long title: Betsy May and Big Teddy are very Old but They Still Love Each Other Very Much. .

Des explained: ‘It’s allegorical – about loving relationships in later life.  

‘I was in bed recovering from surgery after having the same kind of cancer Tracey Emin had, and was struck by how these old toys sitting on our dressing table resembled how battered and worn we felt at that time.

‘I loved the balance of colours, so moved them to the bed to make them comfortable and then decided to do a full scale studio painting of them.

‘Painting the textures of the fabrics, hair and fur was a challenge. The teddy was mine and the dolly my wife’s - apparently her unique coiffure was done by her naughty twin brothers!’

Des exhibited at the Mall Galleries last year and won a prize, and two years ago he was given an award for ‘exhibiting excellence’ at the Society of Botanical Artists. He has lived in Teignmouth for 15 years with his wife, who is also an artist.  

The Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours has been the home of water colour painting since 1831 and used to have permanent premises opposite the Royal Academy in Piccadilly until the lease expired in 1970. Since then they have exhibited at the Mall Galleries near Trafalgar Square.