My life partner, Alison Oldham, who has died aged 77, was a writer, journalist, subtitler and researcher specialising in the mid-20th century visual arts and literature of Cornwall.

In 1999 Alison was appointed as research fellow for two consecutive years at Tate St Ives Falmouth College of Arts, interviewing writers and artists from the postwar period, including Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Ilse Barker, Norman Levine and Terry Frost.

Her research led to the Tate exhibition Rediscovering Writing (2000-01), which juxtaposed paintings and sculpture with writing by, and about, the artists. Her related book, Everyone Was Working: Writers and Artists in Postwar St Ives, was published in 2002.

In her late 20s Alison was diagnosed with severe hearing loss. Between 1982 and 2007 she worked in television, subtitling for deaf people and those with hearing loss, setting style and ensuring quality for Oracle and Intelfax, who held the Channel 4 contract. She was an art reviewer for Oracle teletext and also subtitled archive films for the Henry Moore Foundation and for Barbara Hepworth’s centenary.

From 2004 until 2016 she was also an arts correspondent for the Hampstead & Highgate Express in north London, writing weekly reviews that were entertaining and occasionally mischievous.

Alison was born in Chippenham, Wiltshire, to Jack Oldham, a tax inspector, and Eileen (nee Wood), a shorthand typist. The family moved first to Mottram in Longdendale, in what is now Greater Manchester, then to Cornwall, where Alison attended St Austell grammar school. In 1968 she gained a degree in philosophy at University College London, where I was a student and where we first met. In 1970 she received an MSc in logic and scientific method from the London School of Economics.

In 2009 we moved from north London to Chardstock in East Devon, where we renovated a barn studio, established the Shippon Gallery and kept sheep. Alison continued writing reviews of local and national exhibitions for her website The Shippon News.

A generosity of spirit, infectious enthusiasm and wicked sense of humour characterised her work and personality. Despite her hearing difficulties, she was an empathetic conversationalist, always engaging new acquaintances.

Alison is survived by me, her son, Raoul, from a relationship with Raj Parekh, two grandchildren and her siblings, Clare and Martin.