A 92-year-old great-grandfather from Oxfordshire, England, has found unexpected fame as a landscape artist after his granddaughter's TikTok video showcasing his paintings garnered over two million views. Robert Rose, who has never received formal art training, rekindled his interest in painting during the COVID-19 lockdowns and has since produced approximately 50 works inspired by his lifelong love of walking in the countryside around his hometown of Wantage.
Rose had previously enjoyed painting "strictly as a hobby" until the pandemic struck in 2020. "I was captured in my own home so decided to produce some paintings - it kept me sane," he explained. "I thoroughly enjoy painting, and as a consequence had 40 or 50 paintings - I had run out of space on my wall." His artistic activities came as a complete surprise to his granddaughter, Joanna Menzies, who had never heard him mention his painting before.
Menzies decided to share her grandfather's talent with the world by posting a short video of him working in his shed on social media. "He had never mentioned it," she said. "This was 2020 when TikTok was just beginning to blow up. I put the video on and the next day it had two million views." The overwhelming response delighted Rose, who found the thousands of comments entertaining, particularly those asking "can you be our grandad?"
Working primarily with acrylic paints, Rose creates scenes from the areas he knows best through decades of walking. His subjects include locations in and around Wantage and Grove, extending to Ardington, Letcombe, and The Hendreds. "I've lived in the area all my life and know these good walking spots," he said. "I'd go down, get a sketch and take some photos, and then on the days when the weather's not so good, I can spend the time painting." His portfolio also includes town and coastal views from the South West Coast Path, including a painting of St. Ives in Cornwall, and other areas where he has pursued his passion for long-distance walking.
As an entirely self-taught artist, Rose traces his interest in art back to his childhood during World War II. "During the war years, you couldn't get hold of paper. My mother got me a blackboard and a box of chalks so I would amuse myself drawing tanks and army lorries and plans - that's what got me going," he recalled. "I always promised myself when I retired I'd devote time to a bit of painting."
The viral fame has led to tangible recognition for Rose's artistic talents. His local library in Wantage organized an exhibition of his paintings, giving the community a chance to view his work in person. Additionally, after he painted scenes from walking routes along the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal, members of the trust that maintains the waterway were so impressed by his depictions of the canal that they made him an honorary member.
While Rose gives the original paintings to family members, reproductions have been made into prints that have proven popular for sale on Etsy and at craft and artisan fairs. His granddaughter expressed pride in his late-in-life success, saying, "We're so proud - we think he's amazing. He's got four great-grandchildren so we're hoping they'll have some of his artistic talent." For Rose himself, painting provides both mental stimulation and purpose. "It keeps me fully occupied and helps the brain. It's better than getting up and spending the day just looking at the telly - it's good for me personally," he concluded.
