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The Trusty Servant out there . We were hopelessly innocent , but perhaps you have to be to embark on the harsh realities of an artistic life .
We were not the only ones to have such dreams , or to benefit from the passionate belief in the value of art that ran through the staff of Winchester at that time . All our contemporaries were affected , whatever vocations they pursued . One of Grahame ’ s most cherished hopes was that Wykehamists in business , industry , politics and administration would do all in their power to preserve and enhance the beauty of the landscape and the built environment . His subtle and exquisite planting of the grounds of the College , particularly of the water meadows and War Cloister , were a practical demonstration of his ideas .
Jonathan Hills went on to study History and Norse and Anglo- Saxon Literature at Cambridge , then built a pioneering career in computer graphics and animation for television . He continued painting and sketching , and produced brilliantly funny illustrations for four of my books as well as numerous portraits , notable for their empathy and the perfection of their technique . He brought paint to life in a miraculous way . He returned to Winchester often , and his friendship with Grahame Drew deepened . Grahame recharged Jonathan ’ s love of art , his confidence ; his determination to keep painting , whatever the cost . Such friendships , such encouragement , are beyond price .
After Grahame died , Jonathan played a key role in setting up and running the Drew Scholarships , which offered help to boys at Winchester wishing to travel to further their artistic education . The scholarships have been going since 1991 , a brilliant success .
Jonathan was a tall , strong , fit man , supremely articulate , with a lively intelligence and sense of humour . He was married to the interior designer Lucy Makin , with two splendid daughters and a lovely , hospitable house in Rye . When he told me last Easter that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease I had no idea how close he was to the end . I managed to see him twice before he died , in July 2020 , ravaged by the disease yet still resilient and clear of mind . With a strange , compelling light in his eyes that reminded me of that spark in the eyes of his mentor , Jonathan stressed to me what a triumph it was that we had stuck to our guns , pursued our art and lived by it .
The last painting he did , for the Artists Benevolent Fund , shows a boy asleep on a hillside under an apple tree , with a crescent moon in a darkening sky . That picture remains unforgettably in my mind . It is an image of Jonathan himself when I first knew him , a quirky , irreverent lad who seemed formed entirely of youthful promise , laughter and adventure , yet was deeply romantic and serious within . He sleeps now , under a tranquil sky . Grahame would be proud of all he achieved .
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