Widow uses husband's ashes in painting

A widow has incorporated her dead husband's ashes in a painting of their final holiday together, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Mrs Filkins, of Bradley in the West Midlands, was inspired to create the piece after reading about artist Val Thompson, who specialises in using people's ashes in her work.

The oil painting depicts the view from the couple's apartment window in Menorca, where they spent their last holiday together in June 2008.

"I always say that when I look at the painting I can feel George holding my hand," said Mrs Filkins.

Two weeks after the trip to Spain, Mr Filkins was taken ill and spent six weeks in hospital. He died last September from complications with a stomach ulcer.