MEMBERS of the Malvern art world have been paying tribute to painter Aubrey Phillips, who died last week aged 85.

Mr Phillips, esteemed for his pastel and watercolour paintings, stayed active right up until the end, going out with a painting group less than two weeks before his death.

He taught at Malvern Hills College for 20 years and also at Bourneville College Of Art.

Mr Phillips was a member of the Royal West of England Academy, the Pastel Society, Watercolour Society Of Wales and the Armed Forces Art Society. He published several books and videos on art techniques.

He was influenced by Turner and the Impressionists, and his favourite places to paint were the Malvern Hills, the Black Mountains and northern Scotland.

Mr Phillips was married to Doris, who died in 1992. He is survived by three sons.

Tia Lambert, tutor at Malvern Hills College, said: "We went to an exhibition of Turner in Birmingham and a lot of his old pupils were there. It was clear that they absolutely adored him."

"He had some lovely sayings. He used to say that a painting was like an animal, and if you showed fear it would start to play you up."

Catherine Moody, who as principal of Malvern Hills College appointed Mr Phillips, said: "I was looking for a teacher of watercolour, and it was hard to find one - it was not in fashion at the time. A delegation of students approached me and said there was a wonderful man from Kidderminster.

"He loved teaching, and taught not only at Malvern, but in the Cotswolds and Wales."