I'm no old codger: Artist, 72, to have second baby with wife 30 years his junior

• Ian and Claire first met when they were 46 and 17 years old
• Mr McMean has a son older than his wife
  

You might expect your average 72-year-old to be enjoying a leisurely retirement, perhaps doing a spot or gardening or a game of sudoku.

But Ian McMean is still working full-time and is gearing up to welcome his fourth child into the world.

He and his wife Claire, who is 29 years his junior, already have a son together. But their latest addition was unplanned and came as something of a surprise.

Expecting: Ian McMean, 72, is expecting his second child with wife Claire who is 29 years his junior

And while Mrs McMean said she was 'delighted' to be expecting again, it took Mr McMean a little longer to get used to the idea.

The full-time artist, who has a son older than Mrs McMean from a previous marriage, said: 'I was a bit unsure when Claire first told me she was pregnant again.

'But now I have warmed to the idea. Most importantly I am very happy for Claire, I hope she has a girl this time.

'You have to face facts. I am 29-years older than Claire, this means that she is probably going to spend 29-years on this earth without me. I want her to have family around her, I want her to be looked after, so I am very pleased.'

Mr McMean said he had not seen his older children grow up as he was working too hard, but was given a second chance of fatherhood with his seven-year-old son Kit.

'When Kit was born it was magical, although I was terrified holding him for the first time. He was this tiny, fragile baby, and I was this huge, strong man. I thought I might hurt him,' he said.

'Ian is probably going to die while Kit and the new baby are relatively young'

Mrs McMean , who is eight and a half months pregnant, said: 'Ian is a already a great dad, despite of his age and Kit is a real daddy's boy.

'Of course, Ian is probably going to die while Kit and the new baby are relatively young. But there is never a good time to lose a dad.

'Kit has already had seven years of devotion from his dad, whatever happens in the future.'

Ian with Claire and their son Kit. He said: 'My age makes no difference, I feel young, I have a seven-year-old son, so I can't behave like an old codger'

The couple, who are both professional artists from Brampton, Cumbria, met when Mrs McClean was just 17 and Ian was 46.

Mrs McMean joined Ian's textile company Lonrow in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to work as a designer as a teenager, but she says she 'definitely didn't fancy' him at first.

She said: 'It wasn't until a lot later that we became romantically involved. We worked very closely together, and when that happens sometimes things do develop.'

They started dating in 1996 when Mrs McMean was 28 and in 1998 they moved in together.

The pair got married while on a business trip to South Africa in 2001 ignoring advice from their friends.

Ian said: 'My friends warned me not to marry Claire, they said it wouldn't last more than three months, but here we are almost ten years later.'

He added: 'My age makes no difference, I feel young, I have a seven-year-old son, so I can't behave like an old codger.

'I am extremely active and I have so much to teach a young child.'

'I am not much of a domestic man and Claire mostly sees to the house'

Seven-year-old Kit enjoys sitting on Ian's lap and listening to his stories, but has asked, 'why don't I have grey hair like my daddy?'.

Ian added: 'In many ways I think I have more to offer children now, than I did when I had kids the first time round.

'Kit and the new baby will be surrounded by people of all ages. I know Claire is classed as an old mum, but she's not really, she certainly looks a lot younger than she is.'

But the elderly dad said he would be leaving the bulk of the housework to his wife.

'I am not much of a domestic man and Claire mostly sees to the house. But if she wants help then all she has to do is ask.

'I take the lead in negotiations with customers over commissions and painting sales. But dirty nappies and sleepless nights are another matter.

'I won't see me volunteering for these jobs, but I am there to help,' he said.

Ian, who has sons Christian, 47 and Andrew, 42, from a previous marriage, was himself the son of an elderly dad.

He said: 'My father was in his forties when he had me and his father was older as well, so you could say it runs in the family.

'I had an uncle in Australia who got married at 95 and was also quite elderly when he had children.

'He died while working at his desk at the age of 102. I work 70 hours a week as an artist and I plan to carry on for as long as he did.'

Ian and Claire are internationally renowned artists and have studios in New York, California and Toronto.

They also have a permanent exhibition at The Crown Hotel, Carlisle, Cumbria, where their paintings of landscapes sell for thousands of pounds.

Mr McMean hopes that his new baby will be a girl and inherit her parents artistic talent.

He said: 'It doesn't look as though Kit takes after us artistically just yet, but I am hoping our new baby will.

'It would be lovely for Claire to have a girl, who would carry on her work as she gets older.'