Neil Cordell's passion for art

Through a life time doing varied jobs, from farm work to carpentry and accountancy, Neil Cordell was sustained by his passion for art.

Over the decades his favourite pencil sketches depicted many of the British beauty spots he visited with his late wife Ann on walking holidays.

Now at the age of 84, Neil, who has Parkinson’s disease and lives at Thorp House Care Home, in Griston, near Watton, is preparing for his first public art exhibition.

His work, along with paintings by other care home residents, will feature in an online exhibition on the website of The Dragonfly Gallery, in Watton.

The public will be able to view the collection throughout the month of November.

Neil, who was a member of the Long Distance Walkers Association, visited places as far afield as Scotland, the Lake District and Peak District on his hiking holidays.

Ruth Stanley, gallery coordinator at The Dragonfly Gallery, said she had been planning a series of art workshops at care homes before the lockdown with a view to displaying some of the results.

“Now with the pandemic, and the particular difficulties care homes have faced, I think an exhibition is an even more important and significant undertaking,” she said.

“While I can’t come into the care homes at this time, I’m still able to show digital copies of the residents’ artwork.”