Apprentice-turned painter restores building 48 years on

A Jersey painter has given one of St Helier's most recognisable buildings a new lease of life, 48 years after first working on the site as an apprentice.

Steven Jones-Butel, 63, spent eight-and-a-half weeks repainting St Helier Methodist Church, using traditional brush techniques rather than rollers.

He took on the challenge almost half a century after he started learning his trade in the same building at 15.

Jones-Butel said he could not have done the job if it was not for what he had learned from his mentors at the time.

"You have to have that heart, that passion, that love for something and when you've got that I think it showcases in your work ethic," the Sublime Transformations owner told BBC Radio Jersey.

"I had that from a young age because I was taught by the best at the time. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the skills they taught me."

Working alone, Jones-Butel spent two weeks carrying out preparations, before applying a waterproof coating system and a finish designed to protect the building for the next two decades.

But despite the labour-intensive nature of the job, Jones-Butel said he loves his work as much now as he did when he first started.

"It's like therapy for me," he said.

"I go to work I switch off, put my radio on and just do what I love."

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