Warwick’s past shown in oil

Leamington artist Kevin Parrish’s Warwick Collection can now be seen at the Mitchell Gallery in Church Street.

Depicting some of the town’s most prestigious buildings, including the former Warwick Crown Court, the Lord Leycester Hospital, East Gate and Warwick School, the monochromatic scenes were created during the past few years in collaboration with gallery owner Tom Mitchell.

Kevin, who has been a full-time artist for the past 11 years, is also displaying another collection, Bygone Britain from the 20th Century, at the Wild Boar pub in Lakin Road.

Viewers can enjoy a glimpse of typical British scenes that we rarely see in the 21st century, such as holiday-makers in deck chairs on the beach waiting for the sun to come out, customers in smoky pubs, and passengers travelling by train from Birmingham New Street station during the Edwardian period.

Born in Birmingham, Kevin, who now lives in Milverton, began his career in architecture, from which he developed a fascination with buildings.

The 57-year-old, who taught himself how to paint, became a member of the Guild of Railway Artists in 1993 and two years later decided to dedicate himself full-time to art.

Since 2005, Kevin has been working in black and white and colour and has been exhibiting in south Warwickshire, including at the Mitchell Gallery and at the Warwick Gallery in Leamington.

He takes his inspiration from period photography and his creative art is usually based on photographs.