A WEYMOUTH artist whose work has been bought by celebrities including David Bowie, Jack Palance, Clive Owen and the late Claire Rayner is exhibiting in Weymouth.

Trevor Lawrence, who can often be seen playing the piano in Weymouth’s pubs and swimming in the bay, is a former actor whose artwork has come to the fore and now commands hefty price tags when it goes on show at the harbourside Leighton Art Gallery in Trinity Street Deftly combining the light and the dark, many of Trevor’s paintings are at first glance surreal apartment blocks peopled with silhouetted people and creatures going about their lives.

But the work demands closer inspection, and it is then you see the little details, shadowy shapes and characters emerging from the dark and into the light.

Other pictures are of gaudy plants and sea scenes, each one different from the last, all of them surreal and mesmerising.

“A lot of artists just do one type of sea, but all mine are different,” said Trevor.

“I actually hate painting, but it is my wife. It doesn’t mind if I go off with other ‘mistresses’, such as my piano playing and swimming in the sea, but she always wants me to return to her at night.

“I usually play my piano from about 2am until 4am and then do my painting. I don’t seem to need much sleep.”

Trevor has been painting since he was a child but it was overtaken by his acting talent, which saw Trevor appearing in hit shows such as Z Cars, Dr Who, Coronation Street and The Main Chance.

He appeared in the film Virgin Soldiers with a young David Bowie – then called David Jones – and the two became friends.

Some of Trevor’s larger canvases are so layered with paint that they feel like cardboard.

He describes a successful painting as being similar to a good night of playing piano down the pub.

“It’s all down to the phrasing. If you start playing a piece and it doesn’t start right it won’t be right, but if you get the first chords right, then you are OK. It is the same with painting as with music – start well and it will go well.”

Trevor’s exhibition runs from today until the end of the month.

He will be at the gallery from 2pm to 4pm today and the gallery is open 10am until 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 11am until 4pm Saturday and Sunday. For further information contact the gallery on 01305 767475 or email martin@brushwork.plus.com