A MAN who decided to have his coffin transformed into a piece of artwork has described it as ‘absolutely beautiful’.

Robert Tovey, known to friends as ‘Ski’, ‘BobSki’ or ‘Bob’, moved to Bude from Bristol, following the death of his wife. After he became unwell, he decided he ‘wanted to do something different’ — have his own coffin made into artwork.

He told the Post of, firstly, his difficulties in obtaining a coffin after contacting a local funeral director: “I didn’t think he believed it was serious.”

When the coffin was ready, he received a call from the funeral director, who said: “This is the first time I have ever spoken these words — your coffin is ready, sir.”

Lucy Cox painted the coffin at the request of Mr Tovey, and dropped off the finished work to his home last week. There is a colourful design on the front, with blue and white on the sides and back, like beach huts.

Mr Tovey said of the outcome: “The work she’s done is unbelievable. It’s tremendous. Absolutely beautiful. I wanted blue and white like the beach huts but left the design to her. It’s absolutely brilliant what she’s done.

“I just wanted something different. I’m nearly 72 and I’ve had a very good life.

“I just think funerals should be happy. You have a good life and live your life and that’s fair enough.

“I used to be in Bristol, I worked 52 years, sold everything up, travelled to Plymouth. I had never been to Bude — I just wanted to look at the sea until I go. I got here and thought ‘this is the place’.

“I’ve got no-one now. I’m on my own and when the time comes I’m going to have a great funeral — shame I can’t go really.”

Lucy, who works at Bude Social Club and paints as more of a hobby, said: “He used to come into a bar where I worked. He became quite ill last year, he had a couple of strokes.

“He is quite an outgoing person and wants to be different, and wanted something different for the funeral.

“He contacted me about the coffin after doing a few paintings for him in the past. I was shocked as I had never done a piece like this before but I love a challenge.

“Ski showed me what he had in mind so I got to work. I had to research into paints I could use as they had to be non-flammable. It was hand painted using immulsion-based paints. It’s been a pleasure and we are very happy with the final piece. I would definitely do another.”

Lucy admitted she was a little unsure when she was first asked about the unusual commission: “Because it’s so big, I’ve never done anything that size before and having to have it in my house. But it was all fine.

“Because I work full time it took about three or four weeks — 15 hours overall.”