A grandfather who paints portraits to cope with the death of his wife now fears losing his vision and being robbed of his hobby.

Mike Stewart, from Whitstable, was left heartbroken and feeling lonely when his beloved Liz died four years ago.

"If my daughter Sam didn't come round, I could go a whole week without talking to anyone," the 85- year-old said.

He took to painting portraits of ballet dancers and celebrities - including Ian McKellen, Idris Elba and Billy Connolly.

But five years ago an optician suggested Mike should go to hospital because there was "something at the back" of his eye.

He went to the Kent and Canterbury and was told by doctors he had a leaking vein - which meant he would need injections in his eyes to stop him losing his vision.

"I have got used to it now," he says. "It is always held on a Saturday every two months. I have a scan and then the injection. It apparently stops the bleeding."

But Mike is now worried he could lose the vision in his eye - which would mean he would not be able to paint.

He says at his last appointment doctors told him the injections were not making much improvement.

Mike will find out at the end of the month at an appointment what the next steps are.

Liz died on November 6, 2015, a day after collapsing in Estuary View Medical Centre car park. Doctors found she had an aneurysm in the heart and one of arteries were leaking.

They tried to operate but the chances of fixing the problem were unlikely. So the family made the heartbreaking decision to turn her life support off.

Mike said: "Suddenly your life is normal and the next it is gone and you think, 'what do I do now?'."

"It is just constant reminders when you are sat at home and you have nothing else to think about - other than Brexit.

"Yes, my wife would have been desolate if she had lost me first. But she was a very outgoing person.

"When we started courting and going to parties, I would quite happily stand at the back of the room with a pint of beer - not talking to anyone, just listening - and my wife would lead conversations.

"But now, without that instigation from my wife, you realise you are a bit of a loner."

Mike does about three hours of painting a day in his "little study" to fill the gap in the day before settling down to watch television at about 7pm. He says he has looked through tens of thousands of pictures to paint.

He says: "Painting was the only thing I was good at in school. I packed it up when I was 22.

"I drift upstairs and have an audio book on. God bless the library."

He has not had any success selling his paintings as he cannot afford to show them in art galleries.

Instead, he decorates the walls in his home with them and sends them to his family - including getting them printed on birthday and Christmas cards.

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