WATERCOLOUR artist Helen Primrose Wilmott, who was known as Prim to her family and friends, died suddenly on March 10, aged 74, after several years of illness due to pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Mrs Wilmott was born in Backwell near Bristol, growing up with her sisters Diana and Gill, attending the local primary school, doing a paper round, and enjoying walking in all weathers.

She later attended Bishop Fox’s boarding school in Taunton, where she made many lifelong friends, and loved to tell her grandchildren that she had to cover all her expenses for a term on £1.

After school she worked for W.D and H.O Wills in Bristol, making more friends for life, and played hockey for both the Imperial Tobacco Company and Nailsea Ladies’ team. She met her husband Sidney on his return from National Service in the Air Force, when she became an enthusiastic supporter of Backwell Football Team, which he played for.

They married in January 1956 at Backwell Church, and, unusually, spent their honeymoon at the Aldermaston Atomic Centre, staying with an uncle.

The couple settled down to married life in Bristol and had three children, Sandra, Martyn, who died in 2007, and Janice, as well as four grandchildren, Nathan, Faye, Jacob and Macy.

In 1972 they moved to Bradford on Avon where, during her 20 years as head cook at Bradford Hospital, it became known as the Bradford Hotel for the food she served to doctors and nurses.

She was a founder member of Trowbridge Sugarcraft Guild and made beautiful special occasion cakes, and as a member of both Bath and Lacock Art Groups, exhibiting many watercolours. As her illness progressed she turned to hand painting Christmas and birthday cards.

Her funeral and cremation, attended by over 200 people, was held on March 23. Donations in her memory can be made to Dorothy House.