A LEADING Iranian artist is to exhibit and sell some of his paintings in the North-East in an effort to save a museum he started back home.

Hassan Meshkinfam co-founded the Gallery of Modern Art in his hometown of Shiraz – the first and only private museum in Iran.

But with no state funding, it is facing closure.

The museum costs around £100 a week to run and in a country where the average wage is £200 a month, entry costs 20p.

It features paintings, photographs, sculpture and calligraphy by Iranian artists from the past 200 years.

Now Mr Meshkinfam is to hold a selling exhibition at Durham University’s Grey College in aid of the museum.

The Poetry Inspired Years collection includes 14 illustrations based on 12 poems by 20th century Iranian writer Nima Youshij, regarded as the founder of modern Persian poetry.

The exhibition will be at Grey College, South Road, Durham, from Saturday, February 15, until Sunday, March 2; open to the public from 11am to 4pm on weekends and by appointment only on weekdays.

Entry is free.

Mr Meshkinfam will give a free public talk on Wednesday, February 19, at 7.30pm.

He said: “I am delighted to be invited to display at Durham University.

“The exhibitions here at Grey College have gained an international reputation over the past few years and I look forward to meeting people interested in finding out about Iranian culture.”

For more information, call Joyce Dover on 0191-334-5638 or email: joyce.dover@durham.ac.uk or henry@henrydyson.co.uk