The grieving daughter of an artist whose work was admired by royalty has said her father lived his life to the full and died a happy man.

Desmond Wimsett was known for his eye-catching watercolours and sepia prints of Kingston Market and the Coronation Stone, which were bestsellers at Kingston Museum.

The former Beverley Park pupil, who was born in Tooting in 1924, grew up in Worcester Park and trained as a tool maker and engineer after he left school aged 14.

As a dyslexic Mr Wimsett was not allowed to even sit the entrance exams for art school because he could not spell, so spent years in various jobs.

His daughter, Alison Morrant, said: "He had many a job and it was always interesting. He was dyslexic and I think that’s why his life was so varied and interesting because he did everything."

Mr Wimsett was called up for the army in 1945 and joined the 4th Queen's Own Hussars, becoming Post Corporal serving in Italy and Egypt.

He returned to the Kingston area from Kent and after being made redundant Mr Wimsett was finally able to nurture his love of painting in the 1970s.

After five years of painting he set up his first professional exhibition in the art gallery above Kingston Museum and was honoured by the appearance of HRH the Princess Alexandra at the opening.

Also a keen photographer he ran an art gallery at Syon Park, Isleworth, set up Kingston Artists Society and turned his hand to writing, with amusingly-titled autobiography "You name it, I've done it - The Adventures of a Dyslectic".

The father of three daughters and grandfather of eight continued to paint in his final months, even trying to teach his peers at Princess Alice Hospice where he was cared for during the day.

Mrs Morrant said: “Painting kept him going in the end. The grandchildren are all quite artistic and musical so it’s carried on.

“It was a privilege to care for him in the last 20 months; he had no treatment and made it the whole time.

“He told me that he had done everything he wanted to do and had a great life. That’s all you can ask for really isn’t it.”

He also continued to ride his bike up until his illness and was an honorary member of Kingston horticultural society which he called “his second family” and belonged to St Andrews and St Pauls Church where he had many friends.

Mr Wimsett died aged 87 on Monday, October 10.

A funeral service is to be held at St Andrews, Ham Common, on Friday, October 21, at 2pm.