Karen Walton, my mother who passed away at 85, had an immense love for literature, art, nature, and animal welfare. Her warm, creative, and intelligent spirit was often accompanied by her chaotic and infuriating side.
Born in Dulwich, south London, Karen’s parents were also artists – a painter and camouflage artist Henry Hoyland and a poet and puppet-maker Margret (nee Mitchell-Withers). Karen’s childhood with her sister Rosemary was eccentric and colorful. Unfortunately, both her parents died of cancer before she turned 12, and she was brought up by her aunt.
Karen went to Sydenham high school then continued her education at Central School of Arts and Crafts, now known as Central School of Art and Design, where she met her future husband, the theatrical producer Richard Walton, in 1959. They shared their love for music, theater, and art with friends, relishing in great food and wine until into the night. They married in 1961.
I was born two years later in 1963, and my brother Charlie followed three years after that. Our childhood was filled with the sound of Bobbie Gentry and The Rolling Stones, and we spent our summers enjoying the coast paths, surfing, sailing, and singing to the seals.
Karen and Richard’s 26-year marriage ended, and Karen decided to embark on a new career path and became a Tefl teacher. She taught at Chiswick College in west London and privately tutored for over a decade. Her impressive skills continued at home, where she created two beautiful spaces filled with books, paintings, and colors. Animals, particularly her cats, played a central role in her life, as did trees, which she adored and were part of her surroundings at home.
Karen faced the greatest challenge of her life in early 2021 when she received a cancer diagnosis. She chose not to receive treatment and kept the news private, wishing to make the most of the time she had left. Karen was adamant about living independently at home until September when an unrelated illness forced her into Birtley House, a care home surrounded by trees in Surrey, where she loved spending her last few months.
Karen’s life was a compelling journey from reserved to intensely emotional, the predictable and unpredictable, and from the lows of life to the highest moments of joy. Karen cherished loyal friends, having nurtured lifelong relationships across the decades, and displayed great empathy.
Karen is survived by her children, Charlie and me, her grandchildren Fin and Orla, and her niece, Katherine.
