AN amateur artist has been inundated with orders from visitors to his first ever exhibition.

John William Smith, from Spennymoor, spent almost four years creating the Past and Present exhibition, inspired by his family’s mining heritage and the Durham Miners Gala.

The event opened at Bishop Auckland Town Hall last week, and Mr Smith has been flooded with orders ever since.

Despite working for Spennymoor Town Council and running a small handyman business, Mr Smith says he concentrates on his art hobby during the winter months.

He said the exhibition’s success felt like winning the lottery.

"The response has been phenomenal," said Mr Smith, who taught himself to draw when he was 14.

"I’ve never been to art school, and this is my first ever exhibition. I’ve only got a limited number of prints left, it has been brilliant."

Town hall manager Catherine Dawson added: "I’m delighted that Past and Present has been such a success and so well received.

"It has been a while since we sold so many prints at an exhibition. We are very pleased to be able to help a local artist."

The exhibition closes on July 18.