Artist shocked by online response to portrait of dying father

Artist Vincent Michael Brown was shocked by the overwhelming online response to his portrait of his dying father, which he painted as part of his grieving process. The painting, shared on Facebook, drew thousands of likes and hundreds of comments. Brown, from Warmley near Bristol, painted his father throughout his life and completed the final portrait while crying, saying it helped him process his loss. Many viewers, including care workers and nurses, said the image resonated with their own experiences of losing loved ones. His father, Michael Brown, a carpenter and Bristol Rovers supporter, died in 2025 from pneumonia after a battle with vascular dementia. The painting, titled Father Holding On, will be displayed at the Royal West of England Academy from 12 September to 3 January.