The artist, writer and celebrated bohemian raconteur Molly Parkin has died at the age of 93 after living with Alzheimer's disease. While she achieved fame as a flamboyant fashion editor and bestselling novelist, it was her profound talent as a painter that represented her first and final passion.
From Welsh Valleys to London's Art Scene
Born in the mining village of Pontycymer in the Garw valley, south Wales, on 3 February 1932, Molly's early life was marked by a deep connection to the landscape and a traumatic secret. Her father, Reuben Thomas, sexually abused her from infancy, a fact she only revealed publicly in her 2010 memoir, Welcome to Mollywood. Despite this darkness, he also introduced her to the National Gallery, planting the seed of her artistic future.
After a bicycle accident in her teens left her bedridden, she spent months painting in her room, a period that set her on a creative path. This led to scholarships, first to Goldsmiths College, London, in 1949, and then to Brighton College of Art. Her paintings were soon collected by prestigious institutions including the Tate and Brighton Museum.
A Life of Fashion, Scandal and Reinvention
Following the breakdown of her marriage to Michael Parkin in the 1960s—she famously altered the 'Old Church Street' sign outside their Chelsea home to read 'No Parkin'—she needed a new income. Her artistic eye led her to fashion, where she became the revolutionary fashion editor of Nova magazine in 1965. Alongside art director Harry Peccinotti, she broke conventions, prioritising British labels and abstract photography over Parisian trends, though advertiser pressure led to her departure in 1967.
Parkin's uninhibited personality made her a television regular and a prolific writer, contributing to publications as diverse as Men Only and Spare Rib. She authored eight comic 'bonkbuster' novels, beginning with Love All in 1974. Her personal life remained tumultuous, including a marriage to artist Patrick Hughes from 1969 until their divorce in 1981, and a period living in the Rolling Stones' Chelsea house.
Redemption and Return to Her First Love
By the 1980s, alcoholism had taken hold, culminating in a dramatic moment of clarity in 1987 outside Smithfield Market. She joined Alcoholics Anonymous and, within four months, returned to her true vocation: painting. Financial mismanagement later forced her into bankruptcy and a return to Pontycymer in 1998.
In 2002, she was offered a one-bedroom flat on Chelsea's World's End estate, which became her studio and home. Here, she painted prolifically, her work selling once more. In 2012, Queen Elizabeth II awarded her a civil list pension for services to the arts. She remained a vibrant Chelsea institution until her death on 5 January 2026.
Molly Parkin is survived by her two daughters, Sophie and Sarah, and three grandchildren. Her life stands as a testament to relentless creativity and resilience, a woman who navigated scandal, addiction, and fame but always returned to the canvas.
