AN ARTIST and teacher from Sturminster Newton, whose work included a 10ft sculpture of a guitar signed by the singer James Blunt, has died.
Paul Hart was discovered by members of a painting class at the market town's Exchange art centre who had become concerned by his absence.
Mr Hart, who was aged in his mid-50s, is thought to have died of a heart attack at home on Saturday.
He had taught graphic design at Blandford's Bryanstone School since 1995 while pursuing a successful artistic career.
His sculpture A Blunt Instrument was exhibited near London's Tower Bridge for two months last year alongside work by Gerald Scarfe and Sir Peter Blake.
The giant fibreglass replica of a Gibson guitar was painted with the image of pop star James Blunt, and had been signed by the singer.
Mr Hart's best-known local commission was a mural for the Co-op store in Sturminster Newton, painted in 2006.
The 31ft x 6ft mural shows characters from the town's former livestock market, as well as literary characters, and features from the surrounding landscape.
Running was a passion for Mr Hart, who had been a founder member of the Dorset Doddlers and remained a mentor to local athletes despite a leg injury.
Music was another love of Mr Hart's, and he ran Sturminster Newton's Barrelhouse Blues Club for two decades.
The guitarist formed the Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra five years ago and had performed sessions on the Paul Jones show on BBC Radio Two.
The town's Exchange art centre, which had become the club's home after it moved from two other venues in Sturminster Newton, will hold a blues workshop planned by Mr Hart on May 19.
Posted by: plutus, Bournemouth on 6:27pm Wed 14 May 08
We are deeply saddened by your departure, Paul ... and just when I was going to organise a reunion.
I will remember our chats and the fun times we all had in the '[italic]Jovelina[/italic] ' days and the great [italic]Barrelhouse Blues[/italic] concert.
May your new journey be filled with light and happiness and lots of lovely music.
Love,
Sorani and Zara xx
We are deeply saddened by your departure, Paul ... and just when I was going to organise a reunion.
I will remember our chats and the fun times we all had in the 'Jovelina ' days and the great Barrelhouse Blues concert.
May your new journey be filled with light and happiness and lots of lovely music.
Posted by: johncas, Sturminster newton on 11:44pm Sat 31 May 08
There is a memorial service for Paul at St Mary's church in Sturminster Newton on 4th June at 2.00pm and a Memorial Concert with the Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra with Johnny Mars and Bernie Marsden on 28th June in the Exchange in aid of the Paul Hart Foundation established to continue his good work.
There is a memorial service for Paul at St Mary's church in Sturminster Newton on 4th June at 2.00pm and a Memorial Concert with the Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra with Johnny Mars and Bernie Marsden on 28th June in the Exchange in aid of the Paul Hart Foundation established to continue his good work.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
