Half a century of art on show

It is said that throughout the ages only the wealthy or powerful had their portraits painted.

- TONY HENDERSON

Tommy and his shipyard cat Tiger, by Peter Burns

But shipyard worker Tommy and his cat Tiger bucked the trend thanks to artist Peter Burns.

Peter painted Tommy at the Wallsend Swan Hunter yard where they both worked - Peter as a plater and Tommy as a general labourer.

At 5ft lins, Tommy's choice of footwear was waders. Like the majority of yard workers, he had a nickname and his was The Duke of Wellington.

"Tommy was a real character," said Peter, 81, who lives in Low Fell in Gateshead. "He adopted Tiger from the population of feral cats at the yard and he loved him. That painting is one of my favourites."

Now, around 70 of Peter's paintings and drawings from the past 50 years have gone on show in an exhibition titled Shipyard Faces and Intriguing Spaces at the Old Low Light heritage centre on North Shields Fish Quay until December 20.

As well as his shipyards work, Peter is also exhibiting his images of various locations and buildings, such as the Cooperage on Newcastle Quayside, the Central Station and the 18th century St Andrew's Church in Lamesley, Gateshead.