Some might think that your average centenarian would be content to sit back and take it easy after a long life.
But not south London painter Anthony Eyton.
He may have turned 103 last weekend, but he is busy preparing for this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition – the world’s oldest open submission exhibition.
Eyton, from Brixton, has seen his work exhibited all over the world, including at Tate Modern, Tate Britain and the Imperial War Museum.
He says creating paintings gives him satisfaction.
“It’s what I do, I’m never happier than when I’m putting paint on… it’s the only thing I can do and it keeps me in touch with life,” he says.
Eyton has lived in Brixton for about 70 years and often paints the local community
Eyton’s love of art began with a drawing in his school book of a duck and a worm at the age of six in 1929.
His classmates dubbed him Constable.
He said art came naturally to him and he “painted hard” from the age of 14.
Eyton, who served in the army from 1942 to 1947, is a figurative painter – he paints people, places, “things”.
Age has been no barrier to him embracing social media, and along with his daughter Sarah, a photographer, he regularly posts on Instagram.
“He’s very natural in front of the camera as he’s just talking to me. I use my iPhone camera,” says Sarah.
“He loves talking about art and about his paintings and about what books he’s reading.
“In the beginning it was less about promoting him and more about our relationship, but it has taken on many levels since then and opened up his work to a whole new level of global audience.”
A Royal Academician since 1976, Eyton is putting the final touches to his pieces for the 258th Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, which takes place from 16 June to 23 August at Burlington House.
The exhibition has happened every year since 1769 and competition to have work included is fierce – tens of thousands of people submit their work but less than 10% are successful.
Eyton’s new work has been sent away to be framed and hung.
Age has given him freedom, but he still worries about deadlines.
“Five pictures [for the Royal Academy] causing so much worry…”, says Eyton.
“Are we going to make it on time? But we did it miraculously.”
Credit: BBC
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