Denise Welch radiated old Hollywood style at her son Matty Healy’s wedding in Los Angeles earlier this month. She wore a beautiful, light pink dress to the ceremony with model Gabbriette Bechtel.
However, some people believe Lincoln Townley, her husband and a successful artist, is the more famous one. He’s become well-known recently and has even become friends with major stars like Tom Cruise, Michael Caine, and Meryl Streep.
The painter, now 53, found success later in life. He previously worked in public relations, managing the images of celebrities, before becoming a full-time artist in his 40s. Today, his paintings can sell for as much as £1 million.
Denise, 68, and Lincoln have both been honest about their challenges with alcohol. They decided to get sober together and support each other through the process.
I’ve been following Lincoln’s work for a while now, and it’s incredible to see how successful he’s become! Sir Michael Caine even called him the next Andy Warhol, and he’s sold millions of pounds worth of art – it’s truly amazing to watch his career soar.
The couple has shared how they supported each other through the process of getting sober, acting as a source of stability for one another.
Denise was surprised to learn about Lincoln’s passion for art. When she visited his apartment, she was shocked to discover two paintings by David Hockney casually leaning against the wall.
She shared with Hello Magazine that she was surprised to learn about his artistic side. When she noticed some artwork, she initially asked who the pieces belonged to. He explained he’d been so inspired by the original works that he’d made copies himself. She was amazed by this hidden talent, revealing yet another side to his personality.
Lincoln learned to paint from his engineer grandfather, but he stopped after his father tragically died of a heart attack during a run when Lincoln was fourteen years old.
After a long break, he returned to painting and created a portrait of Russell Brand to support the Abstinence-Based Recovery Trust, a charity focused on drug rehabilitation.
Following a successful online auction, his reputation grew, and he began working with many famous actors like Charlie and Martin Sheen, Al Pacino, Gary Oldman, Mickey Rourke, and Nick Nolte, earning commissions from each of them.
This artist is famous for painting portraits of popular actors, including big names like Meryl Streep, Matt Damon, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kenneth Branagh.
He remembered a time just seven years earlier when nobody was interested in his artwork. Now, in 2019, gallery representatives from around the globe were eagerly seeking it out.
In 2019, he successfully sold £5 million worth of artwork at La Biennale in Venice, showcasing his pieces at the renowned Palazzo Bembo on the Grand Canal.
His artwork has been incredibly popular, selling out exhibitions at prestigious venues like London’s Saatchi Gallery and the Royal Academy, as well as in cities around the globe such as Los Angeles and Brisbane.
I’m thrilled to share that my latest collection is currently on display at the stunning Palazzo Bembo! It’s a continuation of the work I presented earlier this year, which completely sold out – and I’m so excited for people to experience this new evolution of my vision.
Okay, so you will NOT believe this about my absolute idol! In 2016 and 2017, BAFTA – the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, can you even?! – actually asked him to paint celebrities! And get this, his painting of Muhammad Ali – Muhammad Ali! – sold for $623,000 in 2017! I mean, seriously, it just proves what I’ve always known – he’s a genius!
Sir Michael Caine was so impressed with the portrait Denise and Lincoln created of him that he invited them to his 90th birthday celebration four years ago.
Denise unexpectedly found herself among celebrities like Tom Cruise, and even delivered a funny speech that had everyone laughing with her playful, slightly risqué jokes.
Denise shared on Instagram about attending Sir Michael Caine’s 90th birthday party, saying it was an honor to be invited by Shakira to speak. She jokingly noted that both Sir Michael and Tom Cruise enjoy a good dirty joke, and called it a great night with amazing company, tagging several accounts including The River Cafe.
Denise recently told the Daily Mail that she and Michael’s wife, Shakira, joked about creating a playful website similar to OnlyFans, which they playfully called ‘Only Nans’.
Denise described Michael as amazing, admitting she was initially intimidated by him because he’s a big admirer of her husband’s work. She also grew close to Shakira, Michael’s wife.
I try to see Sir Michael Caine whenever I can, and honestly, I just love being around him. There’s nothing quite like getting photographed with him – it instantly makes me feel incredibly stylish and a little bit glamorous! It’s my absolute favourite paparazzi moment, hands down.
It feels like actors with that kind of star power are rare these days. He’s truly a legend, and a fantastic performer.
As a lifestyle observer, I’ve noticed Denise and Lincoln seem to split their time between the UK and Los Angeles! Scrolling through Denise’s Instagram, it’s clear she’s been having fun catching up with friends like Lisa Vanderpump while in LA – they definitely make regular trips.
Denise frequently shares photos from her trips to Los Angeles, and often relaxes by the pool while showing off her fit figure in various swimsuits.
Denise is friends with Phoebe Dynevor, the actress from Bridgerton and daughter of Denise’s former colleague on Coronation Street, Sally Dynevor.
Denise also enjoyed a brief friendship with Taylor Swift after her romance with Matty back in 2023.
Later, during an interview with Andy Cohen, Denise subtly hinted at Taylor Swift’s new album, which seemed to include songs about her short romance with a singer from The 1975.
Denise jokingly said she’s absolutely forbidden from discussing that particular incident, but she’s relieved her time as his mother-in-law is over.
Denise and Lincoln first met in April 2011 in a nightclub at 6am during their ‘party animal’ stage.
Looking back, things with Tim were just… falling apart. I was honestly self-destructing, relying on alcohol way too much. Everyone thought getting close to Lincoln would be a total train wreck, like a huge explosion. But honestly? It was the opposite. It somehow…worked. It was a lifeline when I really needed one, a surprisingly calming force when everything else was chaos.
Their relationship didn’t start easily, since it began shortly after Denise’s highly publicized breakup with Healy.
They were both drinking a lot, which led to more frequent and intense fights, ultimately damaging their relationship.
Denise gave Lincoln an ultimatum, and surprisingly, he stopped drinking immediately. However, it was a bit more challenging for the actress to achieve sobriety.
Denise was drinking heavily during the play’s tour and one night caused significant damage to a flat belonging to Lincoln in Kensington.
She told Yahoo that she woke up the next morning in a Kensington apartment owned by Lincoln, only to find it completely trashed – and she didn’t remember doing it.
He picked me up after the show and immediately asked me not to say anything. During the drive from Richmond to Kensington, he told me how deeply he felt for me and what our relationship could be like – but that it was impossible for him to be with me while staying sober.
‘And I’ve never touched a drink – and eight years nearly on, that’s how it’s been.’
They got engaged in August 2012 and married in Portugal a year later. Despite some initial surprise over their 14-year age gap, they’ve remained happily together ever since.
Denise says being with Lincoln makes her feel youthful and energized. She jokes that some people think she’s married to her caregiver, but she doesn’t worry about what others think. Apparently, Lincoln has always been attracted to older women.
I’ve been following Lincoln’s career for years, and it’s amazing to see how far he’s come! He always talks about Denise and how she was instrumental in his journey to sobriety. Honestly, getting sober completely changed his life – it unlocked this incredible talent that has made him one of the biggest artists around today. I truly believe he wouldn’t be where he is without her support.
In a 2019 interview with The Mirror, the London artist shared that his wife, Denise, was the only positive result of his past experiences with alcohol. He stated simply, ‘Drinking never did anything good for me…except lead me to Denise.’
He explained that they realized the best path forward was to get sober together.
Speaking about their shared path to recovery, he explained that they bonded during a difficult period in their lives and wanted to build something positive from that experience. He said they were both now doing well and content with how things were going.
After George Daniel, a member of Matty’s band, married pop star Charli XCX, the 68-year-old found himself among a completely new group of famous friends.
Last year, while at a wedding in Sicily, the Waterloo Road actress met celebrities like Troye Sivan, Julia Fox, Caroline Polachek, and the band The Dare.
While at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, she described her day to Metro as ‘absolutely fantastic’.
Denise said she uploaded some pictures from the party and that’s when she noticed she was in one with Troye Sivan.
Once her phone exploded, she laughed and said she finally understood what had happened – she’d initially thought someone friendly at the barbecue was responsible. She added that the incident actually made her seem pretty cool.
Fans quickly adopted Denise Welch as an icon within the ‘Brat’ subculture, especially after someone flew a ‘Denise Welch Brat’ flag at Glastonbury Festival last year.
Denise recently gained exposure to a wider audience and has enjoyed several exciting opportunities since November, when she worked as a red carpet correspondent for GQ Men Of The Year.
The celebrity recently interviewed up-and-coming artist Sombr, along with actors Joe Locke from Heartstopper and Cynthia Erivo.
Denise caused a sensation at Mighty Hoopla in May with an unexpected performance of “It’s Raining Men,” featuring male dancers who performed without shirts.
She performed with a group of male dancers, first appearing in a striking hot pink satin outfit before changing into a revealing, sparkly bodysuit.
Addressing the audience with visible emotion, Denise shared a surprising detail about her late father, Vin: he performed in drag as a heterosexual man in Whitley Bay. She playfully challenged the audience to process that information.
When I was in drama school, while other students were going to McDonald’s, my parents took me to a Black Cab in Camden Town instead.
I realize things haven’t gone as planned, but trust me – as your friend and supporter – we’ll work hard to fix them.
Denise recently posted some beautiful photos showing what it was like behind the scenes at her son Matty’s wedding.
The groom’s mother appeared to have a great time at the wedding festivities! She posted photos of herself having fun with her new daughter-in-law, Gabriella, and singer Charli XCX.
Gabbriette, wearing a feathered white suit and top hat, posed close to Denise, who wore a satin dress in a soft pink color with an off-the-shoulder design.
Matty and Denise don’t often post photos of each other online, but the actress – who used to be on Coronation Street – made a rare exception to share a lovely picture with her oldest son for a special occasion.
Gabbriette, her mother Chayo, and sister Marcella all happily wore matching ‘Gabbrietty’ T-shirts featuring photos of the newly married couple, clearly enjoying each other’s company.
The celebrity posted photos with Matty’s brother, Louis, who is 25, along with her husband Lincoln and her friend from Coronation Street, Sally Dynevor.
Denise captioned her post, ‘We love our new family.’
Watching my oldest son marry such a beautiful, funny, and wonderful woman, with the Hollywood sign as a backdrop, was an unforgettable night. It’s clear they were meant to be together.
It was incredible seeing so many familiar faces – our friends and family – all gathered in Los Angeles! I honestly couldn’t believe it. We were all there to witness something truly special: the beautiful, magical connection between Matthew and Gabbriette over those few unforgettable days.
‘We love our daughter in law and our new family @chayobechtel @gary.bechtel and @marsalsa_ .’
Teasing more content she added: ‘I’ll need to do a million reels to capture the fun we all had.’
2026-07-27 03:23