OVER ten years after retiring, Malvern artist David Prentice is still producing a prolific turnout of drawings and paintings of the Malvern Hills.

Since retreating to a Victorian house in Malvern Wells with room for studios for himself and his artist wife of 46-years, Dinah, the internationally acclaimed artist continues to work full-time.

After leaving his directorship at Birmingham College of Art in 1986, the 67-year-old painter largely abandoned the abstract work with which he made his name to concentrate on landscapes.

As a result, his colourful images of the hills and countryside continue to promote the area, with global buyers of his work often wanting to see the sites which inspired the artist.

Over a hundred drawings, paintings, pen-and-ink drawings, reed-pen and wash drawings, pastels and watercolours of the area, demonstrating the best of two years work by Mr Prentice, go on show on Saturday for his latest solo exhibition.

English Airs continues at the John Davies Gallery in Stow-on-Wold until May 31.

Following two previous exhibitions in the gallery, in 1996 and 1998, Mr Prentice has continued to develop his interpretation of the form and fabric of the Malvern Hills, their atmosphere and the effects of the continually shifting light and weather patterns on them.

It is thanks to his Birming-ham-based father, Horace George, and to his "Little Gran" that Mr Prentice enjoyed an early introduction to the hills and their hedges and orchards.

He said: "We used to come here during after the war, when I was a little boy. It's been a long-standing relationship. It's a lovely place."