THE partner of well-known Suffolk artist Sarah Pyefinch has spoken of his “devastation” following her sudden death at the age of 44 - only three weeks before they were due to marry.

By David Green

THE partner of well-known Suffolk artist Sarah Pyefinch has spoken of his “devastation” following her sudden death at the age of 44 - only three weeks before they were due to marry.

Sarah collapsed and died at the home she shared with Andrew Culyer in Eye after suffering from thrombosis. She leaves her mother and three sisters.

Born and brought up in Scotland, Sarah came to Suffolk at the age of 17 and trained as a riding instructor at Redgrave before developing a love of painting.

She combined her love of horses, and animals generally, with her painting and was well known in the area for her studies of animals.

Mr Culyer said: “She started painting as a hobby but it gradually became her living as well.”

Sarah broke her back in a riding accident in 1998, but slowly recovered and was able to pursue a fully active life again, including riding, which gave her so much pleasure.

Mr Culyer said he was “shattered” by the loss of his partner after 21 years together. The couple were due to get married at Stowmarket Register Office on May 30.

“She was a wonderful, caring, selfless person who enjoyed life to the full and had many interests. We loved to travel in Europe and were due to go to Italy on holiday this week," he said.

Mr Culyer said his partner was a great fan of Bruce Springsteen and attending a live performance at Wembley in 1985 had been “one of the fondest memories of her life”.

A track from one of the star's albums is to be played at Sarah's funeral at the Greenwood burial site, Farnham on May 18 at midday.

One Eye resident who has several of Sarah's paintings, said: “Her death is a great shock to everyone in the town. She was a lovely girl - very talented.”