A DALES artist has an exhibition of watercolours opening on his own doorstep tomorrow.

Jason Lowes, from Weardale, paints the landscapes and wildlife of the North Pennines.

Mr Lowes has worked full-time on his paintings since a car accident five years ago left him with severe head injuries and a broken right arm. He has had to adapt to become left-handed.

The blow of redundancy three weeks into his convalescence gave him the impetus to set up on his own. He was supported by the Wear Valley Development Agency and an Enterprise Allowance.

He now spends his time taking photographs and capturing the right light for landscape scenes.

He also accepts commissions, mainly for dog and horse portraits.

The exhibition opens on Monday in the Lime Tree Gallery, off Stanhope Market Place, and runs until March 29 between 10.30 and 4.30pm.

Tomorrow is a preview day from 11am to 5pm.