A Teesside artist is putting some of his finest works on show as part of a major exhibition.

Andrew Gifford is well-known around Teesside and can often be seen painting around the area.

Mr Gifford lived in Teesside from the age of four until he went to study fine art at Newcastle University, where he gained a first class honours degree.

He returned to the area a few months ago and began working on the new exhibition.

Many of the paintings, which include landscapes and abstract paintings, were created in Mr Gifford's studio above a shop in Middlesbrough town centre.

A spokesman for the art gallery said: "Andrew has a fascination with light and atmosphere, and is much influenced by the work of artists Turner and Whistler.

"His work in this exhibition is from a highly personal viewpoint, and relates to Middlesbrough Art Gallery and the surrounding town."

Mr Gifford, who was a finalist in the Gilchrist Fisher memorial prize in 1998 and the Villiers David prize in 1997 and 1998, is also showing his work in an exhibition in Walsall.

The Middlesbrough exhibition opens on Saturday, May 6, and runs until Saturday, July 22, from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am until 5.30pm.

For more information call (01642) 247445.