Stephen Chilton: Tributes paid to Rhos-on-Sea teacher found dead after going missing
The 38-year-old was found dead on Wednesday six days after he went missing from his mother's home
Tributes have been paid to a much loved teacher tragically found dead six days after going missing.
Art teacher Stephen Chilton “lit up a room” and inspired others to learn, say his grieving family.
The 38-year-old bachelor had vanished from his mother’s Rhos on Sea home, where he was living, on Thursday last week and was found dead on Wednesday.
Emergency services had searched for him around the Little Orme.
The exact circumstances of his death have not been released but police say it is not suspicious.
John Chilton, 44, one of his brothers, said: “We knew he had been on a bit of downer but none of us realised the full extent of it. We can’t believe it.
“People would say he would light up a room. He would energise a room - he was such a positive person.
“He brought joy and happiness. People who knew him are all devastated.”
Stephen grew up in Liverpool and later took a Fine Art degree at Aberystwyth University in the early 2000s.
He worked simultaneously at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre while he was an undergraduate - although he never had such problems himself, said Mr Chilton.
Stephen then went to Exeter to take a teaching degree and taught in Bradford and Swindon up to 2010.
But that year, he returned to Aberystwyth University to take a Masters degree in Fine Art.
More recently, Stephen has been teaching art in evening classes at a school in the Aberystwyth area.
“He inspired others to learn,” added Mr Chilton.
Mr Chilton said his brother enjoyed outdoor activities and was also trying to pursue a career as an artist.
Stephen ran in the London Marathon and half marathons and both men cycled together in the French Alps.
A post mortem examination is expected to be conducted today.
A full inquest is expected to be held next year to look into the cause of death.
Mr Chilton said: “The inquest will decide what happened.”
Stephen, who would have been 39 on December 16, leaves a twin brother Andrew in New Zealand, three other brothers, a sister, mother and stepfather.
The artist was last seen at midnight on Thursday. November 20.
Police became increasingly concerned for the 6ft 3in man and mounted a search involving officers, a Joint Underwater Search team and coastguards.
But they scaled down the search after property was found.
Mr Chilton thanked everyone who searched for his brother.
