A FORMER school headteacher has taken to painting in a big way since retiring.

Ken Charlton decided to find a pastime to occupy his mind after 38 years in teaching, the last 15 as head at Hurworth School, near Darlington.

"My wife decided I needed a hobby, but I didn't need a lot of persuading," he said.

Not one to let grass grow under his feet, Ken went to a supermarket and bought a basic children's art kit while holidaying with his wife, Gladys, in France.

He quickly developed a passion for painting and within months was enrolled as a member of Stockton and Billingham Art Society.

Ken was elected chairman, in his absence, at an annual meeting, and has gone on to lead a thriving 50-strong club of enthusiastic amateurs, organising regular workshop sessions. He also displays his own work widely round the region.

After a dozen solo exhibitions, Ken, born and raised in east Durham, is now displaying on "home territory".

Thirty-five of his watercolours, mainly North-East land and seascapes, can be seen at the Seaton Holme gallery and visitor centre, in Easington Village.

Exhibition organiser Mavis Burn rates Ken's work as among the best ever showcased at Seaton Holme.

Ken claims to have little artistic background, although a distant relative, Ted Harrison, is rated among the seven foremost artists in Canada.

His exhibition, Lasting Impressions, can be seen at Seaton Holme, in Hall Walks, until October 6.

Seaton Holme is open to the public, free, from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4pm, and on weekends until the end of September, between 11am and 4pm.