Isle Of Wight WW2 Veteran Honoured In Portrait By Local Artist

A 100-year-old Second World War veteran from the Isle of Wight has been honoured in a new portrait painted by a local artist, capturing memories of his wartime service.

D-Day veteran Alec Penstone served in the Royal Navy and was onboard the aircraft carrier HMS Campania during the Normandy landings, where the ship carried out mine-sweeping operations and detected enemy U-boats.

He also completed 11 Arctic Convoy missions, widely regarded as some of the most dangerous operations of the war.

Alec later lost his sight and has been supported since 2020 by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired former service personnel.

The portrait was created by Isle of Wight artist Francesca Adami, who first discovered Alec through old newspaper clippings.

She later met him at a local event marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, where she decided to paint his portrait to raise money for Blind Veterans UK.

Over four months, Francesca spent time with Alec discussing his wartime experiences, which helped shape the finished artwork.

Francesca said she hopes the portrait encourages people to reflect on the sacrifices made by Alec and others of his generation during the war.

To mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, a limited edition of 80 signed prints has been produced, with 80 per cent of proceeds being donated to Blind Veterans UK. The prints are signed by both Francesca and Alec.

The original portrait will be displayed at The D-Day Story Museum in January, with dates to be confirmed.

Further details about the artwork and print sales can be found at francescaadamiart.com/copy-of-my-miracle.

Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the UK.

Anyone who has served in the Armed Forces and is now experiencing sight loss can contact the charity on 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/apply.