THE trauma and raw emotion of the miners' strike has been captured in a painting - The Picket Line - created by a self-taught artist.

Tom French credits the driving force behind his paintings as coming from well-known local artist, the late David Mulholland and cites the industrial "anarchy" three decades ago for providing the inspiration for his largest work, the 6ft x 3ft canvas.

Most of the characters in the atmospheric painting were all close to Tom, not least his dad, also called Tom.

Mr French said: "I was so frustrated with the strikes, they were so unnecessary, just a reason for anarchy. I'm in the front, the figure in the duffle coat in the middle, getting threatened and intimidated.

"Dad's looking out of the picture, rolling a cigarette and not giving me the support I wanted. I've included other people I've worked with, who have also had a big influence on me, too."

His first public exhibition, entitled Portraits, Landscapes and Industrial Scenes, opens at Redcars Kirkleatham Museum on Saturday, January 23 until Sunday, March 7.

There are a total of 29 works, mixed media art works in acrylics, oils, pencil and pastel, with prices ranging from £110 to £2,500 - the price of The Picket Line.