Wrexham florist to sell off oil painting of Welsh mountain created in memory of her late partner

A florist who created a painting inspired by one of her late partner’s favourite places to visit is to sell her artwork in aid of a mental health charity.

Laura Evison, from Wrexham, met boyfriend Mick Smith in October 2019. The pair shared of love of walking and regularly spent their time hiking in the mountains across Wales and England.

However when coronavirus forced a national lockdown in March 2020, Laura starting painting one of their favourite local mountains Llantysilio, when they were unable to continue with walking.

“It helped with my mental health and every time I looked at it I could imagine I was there,” said Laura, who owns Regent House of Flowers on Yorke Street.

“Mick struggled with his mental health, so I decided to paint his favourite mountain Pen y Fan & Corn Du in the Brecon Beacons.

“He chose a snow scene which was very challenging but I managed to capture it for him. Luckily he saw it a week before he died and it now hangs on our wall in his memory.”

After Mick passed away earlier this year, Laura decided to honour his memory and to celebrate the time they shared on their walks.

She chose to create an oil painting of Cadair Idris, a mountain in Meirionnydd, which was one of their favourite places to visit together.

Laura has decided to auction off the painting, with the proceeds raised going towards Beyond Six – an organisation that aims to raise awareness of mental health by using the great outdoors.

In December Mick was asked to become the group’s Beacon of the North.

Posting online, Laura said: “Since losing Mick the group have been such an amazing support to me, my daughter Harriett, Mick’s family and close friends.

“Rory and Hughesy have already completed Snowdon Six Ways challenge in his memory, with the team members supporting them along the way.

They have become family to me and I feel this is my way of saying thank you to them but also help others like Mick with mental health issues.

“I wanted to be able to do something to honour Mick and remember him & our walks, so I attempted an oil painting of Cadair Idris one of our favourite places we visited together,

“I try to capture as much detail as I can in my paintings, and I like to think that when you look at it you can imagine yourself there, a bit like a Mary Poppins painting.

“I don’t just paint a picture I put my heart and soul into it, and hope whoever wins this will enjoy it as much as I did creating it.”

For the chance to own the painting you can purchase a ticket for £5 which will be entered into a draw to win it.

All proceeds will go to Beyond Six CIC in Mick’s memory to help the group continue to support people with mental health and challenges.

The draw will take place on Sunday January 2.

You can purchase a ticket to be in with a chance to win the painting and donate to Laura’s Crowdfunder here. Tickets can also be purchased from Regent House of Flowers on Yorke Street in Wrexham town centre.