STREET artist Pedro is adding character to Blackburn’s buildings with quirky hand-drawn images and distinctive paintings.

And the man behind the latest image of Kathleen Ferrier, one of the world’s greatest singers, is Pete Baldwin, from Cherry Tree.

The 5ft painting, outside the entrance to Blackburn Museum, has received hundreds of ‘likes’ since a photograph of it was uploaded to Facebook.

Mr Baldwin said: “The museum approached me and asked me to paint on their wall outside, so I took something from the inside to the outside.

“Kathleen Ferrier was the perfect person to paint, and she means a lot to the town. It was just the perfect person.”

The 24-year-old is studying for a foundation degree in art and design at Blackburn College. He was also responsible for the accordion player painted near The Boulevard, in the town centre.

Mr Baldwin, who signs all his work with his nickname, Pedro, said: “I thought the busker one would be fun to do. I saw this particular man out-side McDonald’s, in Blackburn, and took a picture of him. Then, with per-mission, I painted him on the wall. He really made me chuckle.”

The young artist said he had received great support from his peers, and Blackburn with Darwen Council commissioning his work.

He said: “I got such a good response from the busker painting, I thought I would stick with doing local things. The council have been really good with me and I think they appreciate the quirkiness of the wall art.

“My college tutor Jamie Holman also backs me. He realises it’s important that I get wall space, so that I can do more throughout the town.”

Mr Baldwin said he doesn’t like to be compared to mainstream artists while he is building up his own reputation. He said: “People may look at my work and think I am similar to Banksy because of what he does and I am doing street art. But I like to think I have got my own style, and I do everything my own way.

“I am really keen to have my work in other streets, and in other towns, because it makes people smile, and cheers them up.”