ORGANISERS of an exhibition of artwork by an Accrington artist are appealing for his former schoolmates to attend a preview.

Leslie Duxbury, a former pupil of Accrington Art School, in Blackburn Road, Accrington, was head of printmaking at Kingston Polytechnic in the 1980s.

He died in 2001 at the age of 80, but in his later years made a list of former school pals from primary school and Accrington Grammar School, in the 1920s and 1930s including details he remembered about them.

Among them were Tom Coulson, described as "tough, son of plumber," and "Jack Dean -- brother Leslie Dean, swimmer, headmaster Woodnook School."

After winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in the 1940s he joined a circle of artists who became known as the "social realist or kitchen sink school".

The exhibition will run from Saturday, September 6 to October 19.

Former school colleagues can attend the exhibition, which will be previewed at 11am on the first day by Hyndburn Mayor Coun Wyn Frankland, by contacting the gallery on 01254 233782.