A talented artist who designed the HP Sauce packaging has put his work on display in Ashford town centre.

Called ‘Atmospheric Evening’, John Harvey is showing work that captures the unique beauty of Kent’s landscapes and the weather that frames it.

The 78-year-old became a professional artist at 47 after 33 years in the advertising business, during which time he designed the packaging for Player No6 cigarettes and the famous Houses of Parliament design on HP sauce bottles.

The show, which opened on Thursday in the Collection Building in North Street, is displaying a collection of work from his 30 years of painting the county and is the first display to feature originals.

Mr Harvey said: “I love the area and enjoy capturing the mood, atmosphere and tone of a place is important to me.

“If I can do that, I’m happy.”

Mr Harvey’s last professional exhibition was held in Tokyo, Japan.

He has strong ties to the area as his grandfather owned a fish and chip shop in Newtown in the 1920s.

Since moving to South Ashford from London in 1963, Mr Harvey has also designed the logos of Ashford businesses like Supercups Vending and Commercial Tyres.

Mr Harvey, who lives on The Lees in Challock, said: “One of the benefits of not being from the digital era of advertising is that I learnt how to draw on the job.

“At the exhibition, there will be places people will know if they have lived around the area of Ashford or the county.

“I really want to keep the prices low so people can afford it, and buying directly from me will mean they won’t have to pay a middle man.”

Mr Harvey’s work includes paintings of St Mary’s in the town centre and the historic Willesborough Windmill, as well as various landscape views of the countryside around Ashford.

The ‘Atmospheric Evening’ exhibition will run until Sunday, July 29 at the Collection Building in North Street.