A MUCH-admired Redditch-born painter has returned from Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji where he was the official tour artist for Prince Charles.

Alan Cotton is one of Britain's most distinctive landscape painters and has been exhibiting with Messum's Fine Art in Cork Street in London's West End for 16 years.

In January, Mr Cotton - who was born in Albert Street, off Prospect Hill - received a call from Clarence House asking if he would join the Prince on his tour and he accepted.

The royal party flew out on February 27 for Sri Lanka

They were taken by helicopter to Batticaloa, where they saw first hand the devastation caused by the tsunami.

Mr Cotton said: "It's impossible to find words to describe what these people have gone through.

"For me, it was a humbling experience. The fabric will be repaired and donations for the appeal have been the largest ever but the pain will be always in the people's hearts."

Later that day, they flew to Perth in Western Australia and the following morning visited the Royal Perth Hospital where some Australian victims of the Bali bombing are still being treated two years on.

In the afternoon, Mr Cotton did a series of drawings in the grounds of the Governor's Palace

They then flew to Alice Springs, where they were greeted by a group of Aborigine women who danced topless and barefoot on hot tarmac. They then visited Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.

The next stop was Dunedin in New Zealand, where Mr Cotton was stunned by the rugged landscapes which will now form a series of his paintings back in his Devon studio.

In Auckland, the party attended a reception at the New Zealand branch of The Prince's Trust, now founded in 17 countries world-wide.

They moved on to Fiji for the last leg of their trip, where Mr Cotton found an abundance of inspiration for future paintings.

On the flight home, Prince Charles invited Mr Cotton to have dinner with him as they began the 27-hour journey.

"We sat at dinner for more than two hours and talked of many things," said Mr Cotton. "I showed him my drawing books, discussed ideas and tried to persuade him to try oil painting.

"I've great admiration for all the hard work and dedication the Prince put into every moment of the tour.

"And despite the hectic schedule, I've managed to gather a wealth of material.

"Hopefully, I can capture some of the images in oils and when I meet Prince Charles again, he can chose one as a tangible memory of an amazing tour."