ARTIST Richard Butterworth is holding an art exhibition which celebrates Bridport's heritage.

Richard's exhibition, The Rope Factory, will be held in the Yellow Room of the Chapel in the Garden in East Street, Bridport, from August 26 to 28.

His work is very varied, exciting and evocative, and includes many references to Bridport. The exhibition features many aspects of Dorset life and the Jurassic Coast!

Richard has lived in Bridport for 11 years but lived in Netherbury many years ago.

He was born in the Ireland. During the war he was sent to a boarding school in England, and then, as a teenager, travelled to Libya to join his parents.

He lived in Libya during the reign of King Idris, and after some years in the UK moved to Spain, and lived in Tarifa, over the years he has travelled along the southern coast, from Gibraltar to Fuengirola. Some of his artwork is influenced by Islam and Morocco.

Richard studied Graphic Design at Winchester School of Art. He later worked as Director of Art at Telefis Eireann.

He was commissioned by the ‘Junta de Tourismo - Andalucia’ to create ‘carteles’, or posters of the main, Andalucian cities, for use in tourism and education, and these were sent to all the Spanish speaking countries. He painted 12 of these.

Over the years he has exhibited in Cork Street, Dublin, Birmingham, York, Warwickshire, the Isle of Arran, and of course, here in Dorset.

His many travels have influenced his work and you can see the Moorish/Arabic traits, in addition to humour, architectural design and intricate patterns.

His artwork is very detailed, eclectic, fantastic, in the true sense of the word, and humorous!

The exhibition will appeal to all ages, with a varied selection of originals, prints, posters, cards and other merchandise, related to the Jurassic Coast such as teatowels, fossil-collectors bags, and mugs.

The exhibition is open on Saturday August 26 from 10am to 6pm, Sunday August 27 from 12pm to 4pm and Monday August 28 from 10am to 4pm.