A FORMER North-East nightclub owner turned artist is returning to the region to exhibit his work.

Marcus Levey owned Newcastle's legendary 1960s nightclub Dolce Vita with his brothers Norman and David.

The club attracted international stars, including Billy Daniels and Mel Torme, and even Ella Fitzgerald called in after performing at the City Hall.

But the 59-year-old has been a professional painter since the mid-1990s and will hold his first exhibition in his home town next month.

Consisting mainly of abstract works in acrylic, the exhibition will run from September 3 to 22 at Colliers, in Dean Street.