The death of a loved one is always painful experience, and often even more so if unexpected. No two people react in the same way, and no two people remember the person gone in the same way.
Laura Evison, a florist from Wrexham, had her partner Mick in her life for 17 months. Mick – who served in the Durham Light Infantry – and Laura enjoyed time together outdoors, walking in the hills of north Wales and further south, including in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), with Pen-y-Fan his favourite place.
They met soon before lockdowns were introduced across Wales and the rest of the UK.
Lockdowns affected them both and prevented them from going on their beloved walks in the beautiful Welsh countryside.
Painting was Laura’s release during the lockdowns, her way of managing the mental strain they caused. Mick, who had been troubled by PTSD and mental health problems, found coping too hard and took his own life during one of the lockdowns.
Laura describes Mick as
“… a devoted father, son, brother, and uncle, and friend to many”, adding: “During Covid it became very hard for Mick, especially not being able to go on walks, and so his mental health suffered.”
She has continued painting as an outlet for her talents and emotions since Mick’s death and lockdown restrictions were lifted, visiting the hills and scenery that meant so much to them both.
But Laura’s painting is not just for her memories of the time spent with Mick: it is also to encourage others to find the peace and sanctuary they felt in nature.
More than that, it is now – with a painting poignantly titled The Sunset We Never Had of a route well known to Mick and many other soldiers: the Storey Arms Path to the top of Pen-y-Fan – also to raise money for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity and Brecon Mountain Rescue Team.
Laura takes up the story, saying:
“Mick was an Army veteran, and many times did his exercises and training as a young man on the Storey Arms Path, so I decided that as this was one of his favourite routes, then that’s what I’d paint.
“We never got to see that sunset together.”
June 18, 2024 would have been Mick’s 50th birthday, and was the launch of Laura’s fundraiser.
She says:
“Very shortly after we lost him I went up to see the sunset, something that we had always planned to do together, I took a photo of the pathway and with his ridge on the right hand side where his stones are and I felt this was the view I wanted to paint in his memory. The title The Sunset We Never Had came about quite easily.”
This is not Laura’s first fundraiser for SSAFA and other charities in Mick’s memory. Before, she has put the original in a draw to win, but creating this, she notes
“… has been such an emotional journey, I have decided I will be exhibiting it, if I can, for others to enjoy.”
There will be two framed limited edition copies available to win in a draw to take place on December 1, 2024. Tickets are £2.50 each, people can buy as many tickets as they wish, and the winners will be picked at random from all donors.
To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/micks50th.
For military families affected by bereavement, including by suicide, help is available. Search for “SSAFA bereavement support groups”.
