AN artist has returned to his hometown to hold an exhibition of his work.

Chris Wenlock is heading back to Maldon to showcase his recent work at the Maeldune Heritage Centre.

The exhibition of completely new work from the last two years features paintings inspired by the north Essex and Suffolk landscape and the skies, marshland, dilapidated buildings and lopsided beach huts found in these locations.

Chris lived and worked for most of his life in Maldon and was mentored by local art teacher Jean Sunderland.

From these beginnings, Chris’s passion and talent for landscape painting developed and has led over the years to numerous exhibitions, including acceptance at the Royal Academy summer exhibition.

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Since retiring Chris has focussed on his art and in recent years has produced one-man exhibitions at Maldon’s Hayletts Gallery, as well as exhibiting with the Colchester Arts Society where he now resides.

Chris said: “It’s a real privilege to be bringing this new exhibition to Maldon and to be housing it in one of Maldon’s iconic structures, the Plume building and St Peter’s Tower.

“I’m really looking forward to welcoming people to Maeldune Heritage Centre this summer.”

The exhibition runs until Saturday, August 13, and is open from 11am-4pm Tuesday to Saturday at the Maeldune Heritage Centre.