Have easel, will travel ... all the way to China

8:25am Saturday 18th February 2006

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AN artist in his 80s is preparing to head off to China on his own next year, for what might be his last foreign commission.

Over the past 35 years, Patrick Hamilton, of Wyndham Road, Salisbury, has worked across Europe, the United States, South America and India, but he has never before visited the world's most populous country.

And, before he departs on his three-week journey in April, the artist, who is an RA exhibitor, wants to clear his portfolios and sell off all his old work.

"I reckon this'll be the last big push.

"It'll be a lot of hard work, but a lot of fun," said Mr Hamilton, who has been going to the gym in preparation for his trip and has already managed to lose two stone in weight.

"I'm 82, but you can take 20 years off that for the way I feel," he said.

"My cousin, who has a lot of my pieces, told me he wanted to get me painting again, and in places that people don't normally go, so he's sending me to China.

"I'm very much drawn to the Szechuan area, near the Tibetan border.

"I won't be going to the Great Wall I don't want to do what everyone else does."

Mr Hamilton is leaving his wife Caroline at home while he goes on his trip and, other than the occasional company of one or two language students, he will fend for himself.

"They'll be making sure I get on the right bus, that sort of thing," said Mr Hamilton.

"When I walked across Greece, I had a piece of paper from the consul, explaining what I was doing, and I'll have the same thing again."

The watercolours and drawings the artist is currently selling go back 30 years and among the subjects are sculptures and landscapes depicted from his previous travels.

"I just love painting what I see, whatever it is, and if someone likes it after, then all the better," said Mr Hamilton, who only took up art after losing his job at the age of 47.

He has about 100 items for sale, ranging in price from £10 to £200.

For more information, call Mr Hamilton on 01722 329200.