A 91-year-old woman who took up painting as a hobby at the start of the coronavirus lockdown has had her artwork displayed at an exhibit.
Yvonne Turner, from Caerphilly town, is a children’s piano teacher, but as she was shielding during lockdown, she turned to painting to keep herself busy.
Ms Turner’s work is now on display at the Westgate Hotel in Newport, and is titled The Art of Lockdown.
The exhibit launched on Friday, August 14 and is on display for of two weeks.
Ms Turner, who has hearing and sight impairments, is originally from India, but moved to the UK in the 1950s before making Caerphilly her home in the 1960s.
In a message accompanying her work in the exhibit, Ms Turner said: “I took an A-level in art as a teenager, but never used the skills I developed.
“Despite my hearing/sight impairments, I continue to teach piano lessons to many children in Caerphilly and look forward to these resuming after the restrictions are lifted.”
She added: “I have turned one of my bedrooms into an art room and each day of lockdown I have painted something different.
“I have also been experimenting with encaustic art, although I need a little support with this due to the hot iron. I especially enjoy painting wildlife and flora.”
Ms Turner’s granddaughter, Louisa Bates, said the pandemic has “significantly impacted” on her grandmother, who she calls ‘Nanny Vonne’.
Ms Bates said: “She became quite low as she could not teach her piano lessons and had several holidays cancelled.
“Nanny Vonne really missed her family and friends so took to her art room to keep herself busy. She has used her free time to paint and sketch every day.
“She will spend hours in her art room.”
Ms Bates added: “During lockdown, she used her iPad to send me updates on her art and acrylic paint orders and she is currently working on a snow leopard.
“Although she has exhibited 13 pictures, she has many many more in her home.
“Nanny Vonne recently said the highlight of 2020 has been developing her painting skills and showcasing her work in the Newport exhibition.”
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Yvonne is such an inpirational lady. She taught my son piano and I used to take her shopping with Deaf Blind Cymru when I lived in Caerphilly. Lovely to see she is still creating art. She has such a positive outlook and lots of amazing stories to share.