A TALENTED artist who brought joy to both art fans and people receiving help from St Rocco’s Hospice has died.

Brenda Shaw used her skills as a painter to create the hospice’s calendar for the last 11 years, helping to raise thousands of pounds for the charity.

The 71-year-old of Derby Drive, Bruche, died at the hospice last Tuesday after a 20-year battle with leukaemia.

Husband Andy said: “I have lost a companion for life after 50 years of marriage. I’d like to thank all the nursing staff who have looked after Brenda over the years and friends and family who have supported us as well as her consultants Dr Shwe and Dr Amon.”

Her daughter Caron added: “We have just lost the light in our lives. Me and Sandra, my sister, have lost our best friend. She always had a smile on her face and she wouldn’t turn her back on anybody.

“Even when it should have been no smile there she still had a smile and that kept us all going. That smile made me think it wasn’t going to end because she kept going.”

Famed for her pictures portraying yesteryear Warrington Brenda was dubbed the Lowry of Warrington.

She first used her gift as an artist to help raise £33,000 for a new scanner at Warrington Hospital.

For that work Brenda received an invite to a garden party with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 1998.

After her father was treated at St Rocco’s Brenda decided to get involved with the hospice and her art was used to create a calendar that sold out every year raising countless thousands for the hospice.

Her artwork still lives on and features in the hospice’s 2010 calendar, which is available at the hospice Christmas shop on Hatters Row, Horsemarket Street.

Beth Eccles, matron at the hospice said: “Brenda has been a tremendous supporter of St Rocco’s over many years and a personal friend. Her artistic talent shone through everything she did; the wonderful paintings of old Warrington that were reproduced on calendars and cards sold to raise thousands of pounds for St Rocco's over the years.

“I personally have known Brenda for many years and can honestly say she is one of the warmest, kindest and most generous people I know. Her work has brought a smile to the faces of so many people and her memory will live on in our hearts. Our thoughts are with Andy and her family now at this most difficult of times.”

Brenda’s funeral will take place tomorrow, Friday at St Elphin’s Church and the family expect many to turn out in tribute to the loving grandmother to 17-year-old twins Becky and Laura and eight-year-old Charlie.

Caron said: “It just surprises me the people who knew my mum and they are all saying we are really sorry and we will see you on Friday at the funeral.”

“That church is going to be packed with people who admire Brenda,” added Andy.

The family are asking for friends and family to make donations in honour of Brenda with the money going to St Rocco’s Hospice and her consultant Dr Shwe’s cancer foundation.

The funeral will take place at 1.15pm at the church with a service at Walton Lea Crematorium at 2.30pm.