Island artist Douglas John Kent, known for his vast body of work ranging from elusive abstracts to landscapes and mystical animals, died peacefully on Sept. 17 after a long battle with Lewy body dementia. He was 78,

Doug was born Nov. 2, 1944 in Worcester to Elizabeth and Thomas Kent. He was the youngest of four siblings. His father was an artist and his mother was a classical pianist. It was an atmosphere conducive to art and the creative life. He grew up in Leicester, a rural town outside of Worcester.

After the death of his father, the family moved to Worcester where Doug attended Commerce High School. He spent most of his time there in the art room.

He attended the school of the Worcester Art Museum. The museum’s collection was dedicated to teaching a comprehensive survey of world art, including some of the masterpieces of American folk painting. He was fortunate to have been exposed to this collection daily during his art school days in the 1960s. He would wander throughout the museum, absorbing major works of painting and sculpture.

After graduating from the museum school, Doug spent the summer of 1966 on the Vineyard. A sculpture professor of his had bought the Pequot Hotel and offered him room and board in exchange for his help with refurbishing the hotel. That year Doug held his first solo show, a collection of figurative drawings and watercolors, at the Pequot.

During the height of the Vietnam War, Doug attended the Boston Museum School. Always an adventurer he went to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. Unable to speak Spanish, he communicated with his drawings instead of words.

He eventually settled in Vermont for a period of time before venturing out to Los Angeles to try his luck in show business as a cartoonist. He spent time in New York City but the Island always drew him back and he finally returned to put down his roots here on the Vineyard, which he would call his home for the rest of his life. He took much inspiration from the landscapes and nature that surrounded him.

In his early days on the Island, Doug worked with Craig Kingsbury, roaming through the fields and woods of West Tisbury, planting trees, vegetable gardens and digging cranberry bogs.

It was on the Island in 1973 where he met Lesley Eaton, who would become his first wife and the mother of his two daughters, Nettie and Elizabeth, and his step children, Jesse, Jason and Anna Napior. Doug loved being a father and often invited his young daughters into his studio to paint with him or to make them elaborate costumes from his studio supplies. His favorite holiday was Halloween and he loved to paint a good scary face.

Being a father and a working artist pulled Doug in different directions. He had success showing his work for many years at the Field Gallery, where he had one-man and group shows every summer.

He also continued to travel to New York City to show and sell his work. Gallery owners who were interested suggested that he move to the city so that his work could be shown in the center of the New York art world. This idea appealed to him, but ultimately the serenity of the Island won him over and was where he wanted to raise his young family.

Doug’s love of nature led him to the Polly Hill Arboretum in the early 1980s. He worked there as a horticulturist and right-hand man for Polly Hill for over 20 years.

In the mid-1990s he met his second wife, Patricia Cliggot. During their years together they were both introduced to Buddhism, which sustained him in his remaining years and greatly influenced his later work.

Doug is survived by his daughters, Nettie Kent Ruel and her husband Colin, and Elizabeth Kent and her partner Spencer Binney; his five grandchildren Levi, Willow and Coco Binney, and Razmus and Wyld Ruel; his brothers Thomas and Charlie Kent; his sister Ellen Mora; and extended family and friends.

He was predeceased by his brother Peter Kent.

Doug lives on through his artwork, which has been shown in galleries in Massachusetts, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tokyo. In addition to being held in many private homes and collections, his work is in museums and collections as far afield as Singapore, Australia, Japan, Europe and Latin America.

Doug was an Island character and a part of Vineyard history who will be missed by all who knew him and his work.

A memorial to celebrate his life will be held at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury on Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Stories about Doug are welcome and encouraged.

Funds are being raised to purchase a memorial bench at Polly Hill in honor of Doug. Donations can be made to gofundme.com/f/douglas-kent.