Robert Lenkiewicz

Paul 'scruffy' Martin looks at the life of Robert Oscar Lenkiewicz (31st December 1941- 5th August 2002) who was one of the South West England's most celebrated artists of modern times. Perennially unfashionable in high art circles, his work was nevertheless popular with the public. He painted on a large scale, usually in themed Projects investigating hidden communities or difficult social issues. Lenkiewicz, aged 60, died of a heart attack in 2002. Despite painting 10,000 works rated of 'national importance' by the British Museum he had only £12 cash in his possession (having never opened a bank account), and owed £2 million to various creditors.