Friends and relatives have paid tribute to an artist described as “a fine painter and genuine person”.
Anthony Day of Wicken served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Second World War before studying art in Cambridge and Reading in the late 1940s and 1950s.
But he is perhaps best known for creating, reviewing and teaching art, regularly exhibition at The Old Fire Engine House in Ely for 54 years and writing about local history.
Ann Jarman, owner of The Old Fire Engine House, said: “He was a fine painter and genuine person.
“You saw exactly where you were with him; if he didn’t approve of something, he made it very clear.”
Anthony died at the age of 100 last month.
Born in Wicken on February 22, 1922, Anthony attended the local village primary school and at 16-years-old, moved to Cambridge following the death of his father Walter.
On return from the Second World War, he received an ex-serviceman grant to study at the Cambridge School of Art and then onto Reading University.
Anthony’s niece Suzanne, known as Brenda, said he was “a lovely uncle.
“He had a good eye for art and was always there; we would love seeing him and he was good fun.”
READ MORE: Artist and author, Anthony Day, marks 100th birthday
After his time at university, Anthony returned to Cambridgeshire to work as a scene shifter at Cambridge Arts Theatre while still painting and making portraits.
He became an art critic for the Cambridge Evening News until the mid-1970s and started to paint landscapes in oil and then acrylic.
Ms Jarman first knew Anthony in 1968 when she convinced him to become the first person to showcase their work at The Old Fire Engine House, which is one way he would gain income.
“He was known throughout East Anglia; we thought it would be good to get Anthony’s exhibitions in the restaurant, so I asked him about this and he agreed,” Ms Jarman recalled.
“If I left this area, I would take lots of his portraits and hang them in my living room.”
Around 600 of Anthony’s paintings are thought to have been exhibited at The Old Fire Engine House since 1968.
Ms Jarman believes other artists were nervous ahead of how Anthony, while an art critic, would review their work.
But she said he was supportive and “picked out something good in their work”.
By selling his artwork, Anthony was able to return to Wicken in 1975 where he restored and lived in Mangle Cottage for the rest of his life.
Ellee Seymour became friends with Anthony and bought several of his paintings.
“When I lived in Stretham, we would go for walks; he was highly regarded by all who knew him,” she said.
As well as exhibiting at places including the Royal Academy, Anthony published 14 local history books including Turf Village: Peat Diggers of Wicken.
A man who did not have children or spouse, Anthony, a Cambridge United supporter and keen gardener, had four nieces and six great-nieces and great-nephews.
“He recorded our childhood on camera and my mum thought the world of him,” said Brenda.
An exhibition of his work is due to be expanded this month at The Old Fire Engine House, which plans to hold a celebration of life event for Anthony on February 19 between 2.30-6pm.
Ms Jarman felt his impact on the local community through art had been worthwhile.
She added: “Anthony had an immense talent, was very modest and a great lover of the Fens.”
Anthony is survived by nieces Margaret, Brenda and Rosemary; a fourth niece, Wendy, predeceased him.
*Additional reporting from David Aronsohn.
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