ONE of the last pictures painted by a North-East artist before he left the area is being auctioned today.

John Taylor's depiction of Newcastle's St Mary's Cathedral, which he painted in 1926, will come under the hammer to raise money for the cathedral's £800,000 renovation appeal.

The picture has been donated to the appeal by the artist's 94-year-old daughter, Marian Taylor.

John Anderson, of Newcastle auctioneers Anderson and Garland, said: "John is one of the North-East's least-known artists but has one of the most intriguing backgrounds of any we've come across.''

He was born at Dunston, Gateshead, and worked at Dunston Engine Works from his teens until the factory closed in the 1920s, painting only in his spare time.

But after studying at Gateshead School of Art, he exhibited extensively on Tyneside and drew cartoons for the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle.

Bizarrely, he ended up giving elocution lessons to Charlie Chaplin's half-brother - also in the film business - who rewarded him for his efforts by later inviting the artist to become his secretary at Elstree Studios.