Tributes to Swindon artist whose work was known worldwide

Earlier today - 24 December - his children announced in a message on his social media: "It is with great sadness that we write to let you know that our dad Ken passed away in the early hours of this morning at the GWH.
"He was admitted on Thursday following a worsening of his breathing and did not respond to treatment over the next few days.
"He was with his loving family at his bedside to the end.
"Love, Laura, Asa and Joel."
Born in 1943, Ken White worked in his youth at the Railway Works before studying at Swindon Art School, where his contemporaries and friends included Gilbert O'Sullivan and Rick Davies, both of whom would secure global fame in music, the latter as a member of Supertramp.
By the end of the 1960s Mr White was already making his mark with his work on posters and magazine covers, and was subsequently commissioned to provide a piece for an illustrated book of Beatles lyrics.
His paintings and illustrations of working people and their day-to-day lives earned him widespread acclaim, and in the 1970s he was a pioneer of large-scale murals in Swindon, ranging from pieces inspired by Swindon's railway heritage to a huge reproduction of Paulo Uccello's 15th century St George and the Dragon.
Commissioned by Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson to work with the organisation, his projects included images displayed on the company's passenger aircraft, and which became familiar to millions of people worldwide.
Mr White remained very much active in the art world during his later years, and in May of this year joined fellow Swindon artist Tim Carroll to restore one of his most acclaimed Swindon murals, The Golden Lion Bridge, at the end of Medgbury Road in the town centre.

The announcement of his death prompted hundreds of people to share their condolences.
Details of Mr White's funeral will be announced later.
 

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