A WINCHESTER artist will see his work showcased in his first London exhibition next month.

John Pothecary, 60, from Stanmore, has been painting all of his life, and will now see five of his pieces featured in Contemporary Painting at The Brick Lane Gallery starting on February 20.

Originally from Twyford, Mr Pothecary studied at the Portsmouth Art College, and went on to work as a designer for Winchester Graphics, a painter and an engineer.

His designs for a range of stationary were bought by Scribbler in Covent Garden, and Ryman’s, and his work has also been featured in New Scientist magazine after he won a postcard design competition for the National Council of Civil Liberties.

He said: “It’s great! It’s a great venue, and opportunity, and the Brick Lane Gallery has a great reputation.

“The last couple of years I have been just painting and it’s really coming together and seems to have knocked into shape.

“I’m just starting to feel that it’s really happening now.”

Previous exhibitions include the old Art Cafe in Winchester Guildhall, and most recently last June and July at Winchester’s Discovery Centre.

Although he has painted his entire life, Mr Pothecary also had some interesting past times.

He played for Winchester City as a semi-professional footballer at the age of 17, when the team were in the Southern League, and later moved on to management, for both Winchester City and Eastleigh.

Even though a career in football didn’t quite materialise for the artist, he has managed to combine his love of the sport with art, having previously painted for Portsmouth Football Club.

Until three years ago Mr Pothecary still enjoyed a kick-about, but now is focusing his attentions solely on his work, produced from his home studio on Wavell Way.

The exhibition features ten artists from around the world and runs until March 2.

For more information visit thebricklanegallery.com.

This story is also in the 7Days supplement of the Chronicle out Thursday, January 30.