A FORMER MG Rover worker celebrated painting up a new career by opening an art exhibition at Bromsgrove's Artyfax Gallery this week.

Eric Watson, of Severn Close, Catshill, worked in Rover's product development department for 27 years before being made redundant in April.

But now he has started a new career as an artist specialising in paintings of animals and wildlife.

After leaving Rover, Eric completed a business start-up course through Redditch Business Link and received a grant of £500 from the Bromsgrove Council Business Enterprise to pay for the setting up of his own web site, which can be viewed at www.jacqueriifineart.com

Now he is holding an exhibition of his work, which kicked off yesterday (Tuesday) at the Artyfax Gallery, The Strand, Bromsgrove. The display runs until October 8.

A keen artist for almost 20 years, Eric works from his home studio. He has also been exhibiting at various shows including The Royal Show at Stoneleigh, the Gatcombe Festival of British Eventing and the Blenheim European Eventing Championship. His unusual work is described as a bold mixed media of pastels, watercolour, acrylic, pencil and gouache. He also specialises in graphite pencil drawings.

Eric will be at the gallery all day this Saturday and again on Saturday, October 1. He will also be at a special open evening on Wednesday, September 28, giving demonstrations and talking about his work and style of painting. He will also be exhibiting at the Birmingham NEC's Horse of the Year Show from October 12-16.