PAINTINGS by an internationally acclaimed religious artist, Peter Clare, will be on show in Worcester Cathedral in the run up to Easter.

His acclaimed cycle of paintings called The Journey has already been shown in 15 other English cathedrals and churches.

Painted over 14 years, during a turbulent period of his life, they represent a kind of pilgrim's progress, depicting the artist's spiritual journey, linked to that of Christ's way to the cross, death and resurrection.

The paintings have been praised for their spirituality, honesty, depth, range of emotion, originality, vigorous design and richness of colour.

They will be displayed in the Lady Chapel during Lent and Easter week, by invitation of the Dean and the Chapter.

The Dean, the Very Rev Peter Marshall, said he wanted to encourage people to view The Journey during Lent and allow the exhibition to "change their witness to the holy in life."

He said all art needed observers who would absorb and respond to what they saw.

"This is part of being creative," he said.

"The response might involve a major change in seeing either the outside world or the inside self-perception.

"Alternatively, it might be a very minor internal experience."

As featured on the BBC1 Heaven and Earth programme, the paintings have been used as an inspirational base for retreats and there will be opportunities to use them during Lent for prayer workshops in the Cathedral.

An important aim of the exhibition is to raise money for the Street Children of South America. It has already raised more than £5,000 for Christian Aid and CAFOD.