ONE of the pioneering artists involved with Brighton Festival has died.

Brighton-based artist Kevin Fogarty, a veteran of Umbrella – the name previously given to the festival’s city-wide fringe events – has passed away, aged 71.

He frequently exhibited large sculptures in Victoria Gardens, opposite the King and Queen pub, in central Brighton in the mid 1990s.

Among his works was Rubble Man, a striding sculpture for Umbrella's sculpture trail at the time.

His youngest son, James Fogarty, 37, told The Argus: “There was a difference between the art he did that was commercial and the stuff he wanted to do.

“He always had a great passion for life and being creative.”

Born in London in 1943, Kevin studied at Croydon Art College with Jamie Reed and Malcolm McLaren before moving to Brighton in the 1960s.

He met and collaborated with fellow artists Jeff Keen, Gary Turner and, more recently, local film-maker Ian Helliwell, with whom he made various films.

While a lot of his colleagues went off to have careers, Kevin started a family, raising five children.

Living in Newport Street in the town, he was also a self-employed heraldic artist – his hand-crafted Royal Arms adorn many shops in central London and elsewhere, including the Royal Albion Hotel in Brighton.

In April 1977 he appeared in the Evening Argus in an article about tracing the heritage of surnames thanks to his work with heraldry.

Mr Fogarty added: “He always did the best with all of his children and encouraged them with being creative as well. It was great that we were all encouraged like that.”

Kevin remained an active artist right up until he was no longer able, due to his failing health.

His last exhibitions of new works were at Chelsea Library in 2013 and The Greys pub on Southover Street last year.

Mr Fogarty said: “He had two different types of cancer and eventually lost his sight.

“That really took away him being able to do his pictures.”

Kevin's family plans to have a final exhibition of his paintings and donate proceeds to The Martlets Hospice, where he received care in his final weeks.

Kevin is survived by his wife Rita and his five children.

He died on Saturday, May 9, at the Martlets Hospice and his family is holding a private funeral service on June 1.