PAUL Dillon has double reason to celebrate his painting skills this week.

Not only is he holding his first exhibition in nine years, but Paul will also be shown in the final of a television show painting contest.

The 48-year-old, from Butterknowle, Teesdale, County Durham, gave up the brushes in favour of computers in 1991 and started lecturing at venues such as Cleveland College of Art and Design, and Teesside Tertiary College.

However, when the speed in which the technological world changes got too much for him last year, he resigned and built his own studio at home.

"I had kept the painting on, but just as a hobby," he said. "This is the first exhibition I've had since 1991."

His latest paintings are being put on show at the Art Shop in Bondgate, Darlington, the town where he has also been working for the past 25 years, in positions such as his role in the Arts Centre.

On Tuesday night, viewers of Channel 4's Water Colour Challenge saw Paul reach the final with a picture of Dunstanburgh Castle, in Northumberland.

The final will be screened tomorrow at 3.30pm, when Paul's painting will be of Alnwick Castle.