AN ARTIST who stopped painting when his wife became terminally ill is to hold his first exhi-bition in five years.

Norman Redmayne, 72, of Sarah Street, Darwen, will present ten of his still-life pieces with an abstract theme at the Central United Reformed Church, Duckworth Street, on May 26.

Norman, who trained at Manchester Art College at the same time as LS Lowry, will be one of the contributors to the first Whitsuntide Mini Festival in the town.

He stopped painting when his wife Pat became ill with lung cancer about a year before she died aged 65 on February 14 last year.

Despite being born without a left hand, Norman had worked as a painter in oils for more than 40 years and started painting again in November after event organiser Susan Coughlin, 53, of Tudor Lane approached him about the festival.

Norman said: "I'm getting back into my stride now. As things stand I don't have to please anybody but myself.

"There's no comparison to my earlier work, it's totally different, and I'd say it's nearer to my philosophy on art."

Norman is well-known for his earlier seascape and landscape works, many of which feature the Darwen moors and Sunnyhurst Wood.

His daughter, Royal Blackburn Hospital theatre practitioner Jane Jolley, 31, of Willow Street, will be selling her hand-made cards beside him.

Norman, grandad to two girls, opened his studio and gallery in Duckworth Street about 35 years ago then left ten years later and has since been based at his home.

He started his working life aged 15 as a copyholder working alongside the proofreaders at The Lancashire Telegraph.

He left nine years later to study art full-time in Manchester after discovering his passion for painting. Four years were spent learning the skills of his trade at the same time as Lowry, and Norman often saw him shuffling' around Manchester Art College. After moving into the studio Norman got an agent who sold his works far and wide.

The Whitsuntide Mini Festival, organised by the Churches Action Group's Darwen branch, will feature work from other town artists, craft stalls and work by The Woodpecker Inspirational Group of Ellenshaw Street which recycles unwanted furniture. For further information visit home. btconnect.com/darwenchurches.fs