Near-death experience inspires artist’s work on show at Lauderdale House in Highgate

An artist whose work is on show at a much-loved historic home in Highgate said she was inspired to create her art when her husband “died” twice in one day.

Gill Jones said the memory of her husband’s heart stopping on two occasions has helped her create artwork based “around the tenuous grasp that we have on life”.

Her vulnerable portraits of her husband are on show at Lauderdale House in Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, until November 10.

Mrs Jones, from Barnstaple in Devon, whose husband survived the frightening incident, said: “He died twice. He dropped dead at my feet and then he died again in the ambulance.

“I discovered that if you start painting a man who is less than heroic or robust, then people are very disturbed by it.”

Mrs Jones is exhibiting at Lauderdale House alongside fellow West Country artist Susan Wallis.

For more information, visit www.lauderdalehouse.co.uk.