Monty was a late starter in the world of art, having spent most of his life as a consultant audiologist in centres thoughout the world. He was a keen photographer until April 2001, when he became ill with a brain tumour, followed by a stroke.
As part of his recovery therapy he took up art, using mixed media, watercolours and acrylics, but after discovering the thousands of colours and effects of digital paintings he is now working on a portfolio in that medium.
?It?s a way of expressing my emotions ? all the pent-up feeling when I suffered the stroke,? Monty said. ?Art was a way of giving me back some control?.
Starting with figurative work, he has now gone into ?emotional abstract?. His source material is his own artwork and photographs allied to his own imagination, which helps him to produce abstract, fantasy and dreamlike images.
The exhibition, which is in Tavistock Library foyer for two weeks starting on August 23, includes Monty?s version of the Pieta and a strong colourful image entitled Shots of Silk. The pictures are available at affordable prices, with the smallest starting at £5.
The picture presented to mayor Jenny Metcalf for the town council was of Tavistock Parish Church. This was originally a photograph, but Monty had turned it into a chalk image on a black background.