AN artist and former Purleigh man whose career included designing interiors for some of the biggest banks in the world has died.

David Lloyd’s fascination with drawing began from an early age and he had an uncle who was an artist.

His schoolmaster uncle continued that interest but as David grew up he also had a desire to travel abroad.

He did his National Service in the Navy on an aircraft carrier based in the Mediterranean.

David got a job on a rubber plantation in Malaysia in 1955.

During that time he worked his way up through the ranks of the plantation estate.

He was married to wife Deanna and the couple had two children – Amanda and Samantha.

When the plantation he was managing was being sold off, David decided the family should return to England in 1969.

A short spell was then spent in life assurance before David joined an interior design company.

He then set up his own design business, working in the City boardrooms of bankers and lawyers.

David was also painting at the time in and around the city and by its law courts.

Soon his name was getting around barristers’ chambers and law offices, with well-known names in the legal world snapping up his work.

One fan was Baroness Elizabeth Butler Sloss, the first female Lord Justice of Appeal and the highest ranking female judge in the country until 2004.

David was living in Purleigh at the time and was painting full time.

He also painted inside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, including being commissioned to do five paintings for it.

The courts also printed 4,000 Christmas cards featuring his pictures which sold out in just 48 hours.

David eventually retired but continued to enjoy painting around the Colchester area.

He died on June 15, aged 85, after battling pancreatic cancer.

His funeral took place on Friday at St Anne and St Laurence Church, Elmstead Market.