Headstone wish inspires mural business

Oct 21 2008 By Vicki Eltis

Fionn Keywood

A Walton mum has set up a children’s mural painting business and she hopes to use the profits to buy a headstone for her father's grave.

Fionn Keywood, 27, of Weir Road, believes women at home should utilise their skills and has decided to use her's to finally pay for a headstone for her late father Richard Keywood.

He died in July 1994 of a heart attack, when he was in his 30s, and is buried at Burhill Cemetery, in Hersham.

Fionn, who has a 19-month-old daughter Kaydence, said: "He has a cross but we have never been able to afford a headstone. The money is something I’ve never had to hand. Hopefully with my first few jobs I can afford the headstone he deserves."

Fionn, a former account manager, came up with the idea for her new business while she was looking for a part-time job.

She said: "It’s hard to go back to full-time work because of the cost of nurseries so I decided to use what skills I had. I enjoyed drawing and used to work in a nursery."

On a trip to Ireland to see her fiancé Brian Travers’ family, she painted a mural of Spiderman on his nephew’s bedroom wall and Bedrooms and Paintbrushes was born.

In the 14 years since her dad’s death, Fionn has never visited his grave. She said: "I think I have been too scared but now I’ve had Kaydence I need to grow up and I want to be able to take her to see her grandad’s grave and to tell her all about him. He was a legend, fun-loving and a real kid at heart."

To launch her new business Fionn is offering her services to all nurseries in Elmbridge for the cost of materials only. Her labour will be free.

She said: "I thought it would be good to offer my services free to nurseries in the catchment areas. Paintings can be stimulating and educational and can help children’s imagination too."

She has also offered to design a mural based on the children’s television show The Night Garden for Toad Hall Nursery in Manor Road where her mum, Geri Keywood, works as a chef.

Any nurseries who are interested should call Fionn on 07825 770422.