WHEN her beloved son, Michael, died, Helen Munton was contacted by people from around the world.

“So many people paid their respects, and told me how much Michael and his artwork had inspired them,” says Helen. “He did art demonstration videos on YouTube, and through that he made friends with people across the world. I didn’t realise he’d made such a big impact until they started to contact me.”

Michael died in February, aged 41, after suffering from a brain tumour. A talented artist, he trained in the wet-on-wet oil painting technique in Holland, with support from the Prince’s Trust. He used his skills to teach art to young offenders and, aged 22, he was presented with the charity’s Young Achievers award by the Queen at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

A self-taught artist, Michael set up a gallery and art classes, and sold paintings across the UK and overseas. His YouTube classes and painting demonstrations were a global hit, gaining rave reviews and commissions for his work, and he continued to paint even after losing his speech and the use of his right arm.

“Michael was 32 when he was diagnosed, at first it was thought he only had six months,” says Helen, of Greengates. “It started with a trembling in his foot. He had some tests then a biopsy at St James’s Hospital in Leeds.

“A scan revealed a growth on his brain, but they weren’t sure what it was at first. After another biopsy it was discovered that he had an inoperable astrocytoma tumour on the left of his brain. It affected the right side of his body; his leg wouldn’t work properly, he had to drag it, and he was often trembling and shaking.”

Doctors told Michael the tumour would eventually rob him of his sight and hearing. He underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy and had medication to ease the swelling on his brain and spasms in his legs.

Despite his worsening condition, Michael continued to pursue his art career. In 2010 I met Michael to do an article on art classes he was setting up at a gallery in Idle. “When I came out of hospital I did some painting demonstrations on YouTube and got quite a following,” he told me. “For me, it’s a form of therapy. I find painting relaxing, it connects me with the natural world.

“I’ve called the gallery Natural Wonders because the artwork focuses on natural landscapes.

“I’m always on the lookout for new locations, and Yorkshire has some beautiful images for me to capture with my camera, then paint. I like to paint well-known places and put my own twist on them. I’m a fan of both contemporary and traditional styles and I’m inspired by artists like Turner, Constable and Bob Ross.”

The gallery featured paintings of places such as Otley Chevin, The Strid at Bolton Abbey, Malham Cove, Niagra Falls, Alaskan mountains and Amazon rainforests.

A keen walker and traveller, with a passion for wildlife, Michael was particularly inspired by Yorkshire’s rural landscapes. His paintings, displayed online, include misty lakes, dramatic mountains set against pink sun-kissed skies, a rainy New York street scene and Loch Scridain on the Isle of Mull.

As well as being showcased worldwide, his artwork also won the admiration of Royalty, when he presented a painting to Prince Charles at the Yorkshire Show. He also taught local community groups.

In 2013 Michael and Helen took part in Bradford’s Race for Life event, along with Michael’s sister, Charlotte Bradley.

Last November Michael started having seizures, leading to the loss of use of his right arm. “We had started to think he was invincible, he had survived for nine years against all the odds,” says Helen. “But he had a scan before Christmas and the tumour was covering just over half his brain. Just before Christmas he lost all use in his right arm, and his speech, and his mobility got worse.”

Despite being right-handed, Michael continued to paint.

“He taught himself to paint with his left hand, he was determined to keep painting,” says Helen. “He did two floral paintings completely with his left hand - he gave one to me and one to my friend and said it was flowers to keep after he died.”

Helen’s beautiful painting of lilacs, and other artworks by Michael, adorn the walls of her home. “They’re a great comfort, they remind me of Michael,” says Helen.

Another big comfort in Helen’s life is Michael’s four-year-old son, Conor. “I see Michael in him all the time,” says Helen. “When he was having radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Michael didn’t think he’d be able to have a child. All he ever wanted was a family, when he got married and had a baby he was so happy. Conor is the spitting image of him.

“Michael was always into nature and bushcraft, right from being a boy. He enjoyed taking Conor into the woods, making a shelter and cooking meals. He made a video for Conor called The Best Bushcraft Day Ever, filmed in Buck Woods in Thackley. Conor will always have that - and Michael’s YouTube videos.

“I’m also making him a memory box, containing Michael’s Buckingham Palace guest list, a book of photos, and printed comments about him and his work from YouTube.”

Michael, the youngest of Helen’s four sons, showed artistic talent as a child. “He trained at Holland, in the Bob Ross wet-on-wet technique,” says Helen. “That was his specialist area, but he painted in other mediums too - watercolours and acrylics.

"His online demonstrations means his work still goes on - people are still making contact with me from all over the world. Someone contacted me the other day wanting to buy his painting of the Humber Bridge."

Helen misses Michael every day, but is proud that his memory lives on through his work. “He lives on through his art and videos. People continue to be inspired by him, and to learn from him - and that’s a wonderful legacy for him to leave,” she smiles.

* Michael Munton’s YouTube demonstrations are on micart33