David Hockney’s assistant has died after being rushed to the hospital from the artists Bridlington home. Dominic Elliott, 23, a keen rugby and hockey player passed away on Sunday following a severe bout of vomiting, it was reported. The Humberside Police were treating his death as unexplained, and a post-mortem examination will take place, later today, the police have stated.
Mr Elliott who worked for Hockney as a driver and studio assistant has been depicted in several portraits by the internationally renowned artist. Hockney’s publicist told a news wire service he was “too upset to comment at the moment”. Erica Bolton of Boulton and Quinn PR, in London explained that, Mr Elliott had worked for Hockney for more than two years and “was a hugely valued member of the team”. Elliott was also part of the team that mounted the popular Royal Academy exhibition last year.
A local news report inferred, Elliott had been drinking the night before he died, and had begun violently vomiting. John Fitzherbert, Hockney’s long term partner decided to take him to the hospital’s emergency room. A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “Results from post-mortem examinations are not always conclusive and it may then take several more weeks for complete results to be available to provide a pathologist with the information required to identify any cause. “Officers will continue to make routine inquiries into the events leading up to the arrival of the deceased at hospital and his subsequent death.” Another police spokes woman said; “The circumstances of the man’s death are not clear and officers are currently undertaking inquiries to establish events leading to his death.”
Update: It is now known that Mr Elliott took his own life.