Veronica Gosling, a writer and visual artist whose life was defined by boundless creative energy and a distinctive presence in Exeter's cultural scene, has died at the age of 94.
From Literary Debut to Visual Discovery
Born in London to writer and broadcaster Robert Henriques and his wife Vivien, Veronica's early life was marked by wartime evacuation to the United States. Upon her return, she was educated at Cheltenham Ladies' College. Her creative journey first found public expression in literature. At just 24, she published her debut novel, Love from a Convict in 1955, a story about a reporter who falls in love while visiting a prison. The book garnered significant praise, with critic Norman Shrapnel in the Manchester Guardian describing it as a "tiny Wuthering Heights".
She worked as a journalist for the Western Morning News in Plymouth before marrying psychoanalyst Robert Gosling in 1958. Together, they raised five children. Veronica published four more novels, with the last, Tom's Sister, appearing in 1977.
A New Creative Language in the Countryside
A pivotal shift occurred in 1978 when the couple moved from London to the Forest of Dean. In the rural setting, Veronica felt she had "nothing to write about," having previously focused on capturing conversations. This led her to turn her keen observational skills towards the visual arts. She began sketching people's movements and attitudes, which she then transformed into sculptures, clay works, and mixed-media assemblages.
She had a profound affinity for found objects, drawn to their shapes, textures, and hidden histories. She liberated these items from their original purposes, giving them new imaginative life. Her home became an extension of her studio, with walls and appliances frequently adorned with bold, layered paintings, a practice she turned to especially during periods of personal upheaval.
Community and Collaboration in Exeter
Following Robert's death in 2000, Veronica moved to Exeter in 2003. There, her community spirit flourished. She founded Studio 36, an experimental space where poetry, dance, video, and painting could collide. She delighted in cross-disciplinary events, from "Creative Integration Day" for new residents to the playful "Hello Beckett!" which fused performance, poetry, and piano.
Her commitment to inclusive art was unwavering. She ran painting workshops for people with dementia and their carers, firmly believing everyone held innate creativity. In 2020, she launched the community art-board project "Get on Board" with support from Exeter City Council. The project drew contributions from across the city, including from Exeter Prison, and she was actively working on it just days before her death.
Veronica Gosling is survived by her four sons, Jonathan, Will, Sam, and Roly, 12 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Her daughter, Louisa, died last year. Her legacy is one of relentless curiosity, embodied in her lifelong mantra of asking "Why not?" and "What if?"
