By Ashley Conner

Preserving history is a large part of Glenn Lehew‘s affinity for creating art. In his youth, he began to take notice of his talent when drawing with paper and pencil, but never truly began to explore those skills until much later in his adult life.

Now many know of his oil and watercolor paintings, often of churches, tobacco barns and home places that were once full of life.

Most recently, he took to creating art on wood, tin, and slate, and some of those are on display at the South Boston Halifax County Visitors Center in South Boston until the end of July.

In addition to tobacco barns and historic local buildings such as the mansion at Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center, his paintings on display also include native wildlife and portraits.

"Lately, I’ve started using acrylic paints on old boards given to me from buildings being torn down, some from an old icehouse on River Road dating to the early 1800’s. Also, on roof slates and tin roof pieces," said Lehew.

He feels he can paint more freely on those mediums, and it has proven to be more cost effective. His frames are made from reclaimed wood, which he makes himself. Woodworking is another skill of his with an 8-foot grandfather clock being a part of his portfolio as well as banjos. His attention to detail is the same with woodworking as it is with his painting.

"I’ve learned how to do everything with a banjo, but learn how to play it well," he said with a chuckle.

When it comes to his artwork, he’s painted many area churches, oftentimes giving them framed paintings to be used to make prints or for their church bulletins.

He’s completed paintings of First Presbyterian in South Boston, Main Street United Methodist in South Boston, Trinity Episcopal Church in South Boston, St. John’s Episcopal in Halifax, Scottsburg Methodist, and Baptist churches and his own, Dan River Baptist. St. John’s has five or more of his paintings in their fellowship hall.

He has many other subjects for his art as well such as The State Theater of Virginia, the "Martha" Washington Inn in Abingdon and the "Cedar Forest" grist mill in Pittsylvania County, near Cody.

Recently, car enthusiasts have wanted paintings of their classic cars.

"When I do those, I try to place the car in one of the owner’s old favorite places," said Lehew.

Usually, these places no longer exist such as the former South Boston Stock Market that was once on Highway 58, the former restaurant Ziggy’s that was once in Riverdale and by Scottsburg Elementary, circa 1950.

"(There was) One of an old Ford 37 coupe–which the owner had placed in front of an old tobacco barn. He had framed the photo so well the painting was made easy," said Lehew.

"When I consider why I paint it is because of what I paint. Most of what I paint is already gone or soon will be. In a small way, I feel like I’m preserving the past and the memories those paintings evoke. Maybe others will derive a fond memory of some place, thing, or person that I tried to capture. Like ‘Levi’ the rooster, with his beautiful plumage, is no longer crowing," he added.

The joy that his paintings bring to others is another big reason why he paints.

When he painted the South Boston Stock Market, he painted a 1928 Ford truck this guy had bought, and he put it in front of the market. In front of the market, he also drew a bench, and there’s a cooler where you can get a soft drink.

"I didn’t know all the details, but I painted it like that," said Lehew as he then described the moment, he gave it to the man he painted it for.

"He was overjoyed. He said, ‘me and my grandfather used to sit on that bench and drink a soft drink and go into the market.’ So, whether the painting was any good or not, it brought a memory to him that he cherished," he added.

His painting journey began in Kentucky. He was a mathematician by trade creating programs for planes. Eventually a layoff, a new job at Westinghouse and a transfer led to his move to South Boston.

But, when he would visit Kentucky, he began to take notice of his friend’s paintings. She had taken art in college. Then when she took him to an art show in Ohio, he thought it was a skill that he could do well in.

"So, I started there, and of course you get better the longer you go. You develop more skills," said Lehew.

He no longer attends shows for various reasons, but he continues to hone his craft, sometimes taking requests.

His gallery at the visitor’s center is part of a new rotating gallery that allows local artists the chance to showcase and sell their artwork in a space that offers goods from various local businesses and artisans.

The gallery also ties in with the Halifax County Department of Tourism’s new campaign, "Stars Shine Brighter in Halifax County," which highlights the people and places that make Halifax County shine.

Lehew and his artwork is just one of the many things in Halifax County that truly shines.

The South Boston Halifax County Visitors Center is located at 1180 Bill Tuck Highway, at the intersection of Route 58 and Highway 360, and is open Monday – Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from noon until 5 p.m.