A MAN who developed a passion for steam trains and old cars from visiting the Watercress Line as a child with his father has converted these feelings into art.

East Hampshire artist Dickon Armstrong has held an exhibition called ‘Wheels in Motion’ at the Allen Gallery in Alton, which featured some dramatic aspects of steam trains, such as one in bright acrylic colours of locomotive wheels, and a nostalgic painting of the Gordon Keeble car which was built in Hampshire in the 1960s before going out of production.

It is the second time Mr Armstrong, who studied art at Alton College and includes outstanding technical detail in his work, has held an exhibition at the Allen Gallery, but he has also held exhibitions in Farnham and at The Milestone Museum in Basingstoke, where he works as a costume interpreter.

The latest exhibition, which closes today (Friday), “is a reflection of my passion for steam trains and cars of yesterday. I hope people have enjoyed my work.

“My ambition is to become a full-time artist and I hope if I sell any I will put some of the money toward doing up a 1936 Triumph car.”