A POPULAR painter has turned his hand to writing, publishing a book telling the story of a six-month holiday which turned into a six-year love affair with a Greek island.

Back in 2001, Peter Hemming, now of Belmont, Durham, planned to spend six months on the Ionian holiday island painting and exhibiting his work locally.

But he fell in love with the place and its people and stayed for six-and-a-half years.

Now the pensioner has self-published ‘Oil Paint and Greece: Memories of Kefalonia’, based on his blog from the time.

Mr Hemming said: “We first went to Kefalonia on holiday and I said to Pam (his partner) on the plane on the way back that I wouldn’t mind going back to do some painting for six months. She said: ‘Just do it’. It’s a beautiful island.”

But following a successful art exhibition in Argostoli, the Kefalonian capital, in September 2001, Mr Hemming decided to stay.

The artist and Pam Stuart-Smith eventually left for France in 2007, before moving to Durham in October 2010, where Mr Hemming finished the book.

“It’s an insight into how what’s known as a holiday island actually works as a real part of Greece,” he said.

“It’s not only about Kefalonia but about the Kefalonians, who made us so welcome.”

Oil Paint and Greece is available online through Amazon, priced £8.09 in paperback. It is also available in eBook format.