A globe-trotting senior policeman has left his life in rural Kent for the shores of the Cayman Islands.

Former Maidstone borough commander Robbie Graham, who is also an accomplished artist, has taken up a two-year assignment on the British territory in charge of 300 police officers.

He took up the position, which involves overseeing all operations including response teams, firearms, marine, air and traffic operations, at the beginning of the month following a four-year break from the force to pursue his passion for painting.

It’s not the first overseas post for the superintendent, his career took a very different trajectory when in 2009 he was seconded to work in Adelaide, South Australia.

Mr Graham said that his introduction to policing Down Under was short on ceremony.

He said: “I was still a serving chief inspector with Kent Police when I was seconded to South Australia as part of an exchange programme. When I arrived I was provided with a uniform and had to run a busy police station from the get-go.”

He returned to Kent Police after his three-month secondment, but eventually left the force in 2012 to follow his love for art. Much of his impressive work adorns the walls of Maidstone police station.

Now shortlisted for an award in the prestigious David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of Year competition, Mr Graham, who is self taught, has perfected his technique mainly using acrylics to produce highly detailed photo-realistic paintings.

He has also spent much of his time travelling to gain better understanding of conservation issues and is a passionate fundraiser for charities, raising more than £10,000 for big cats.

After a 22-year career in the police, Mr Graham found himself drawn back into public service. He said: “I have always enjoyed undertaking something worthwhile and although my painting has and continues to be successful, I thought that I had another chapter in me in relation to policing.”

His wife Susan will join him in the next couple of months. The pair, both in their early 50s, met in later life and were married last year in Tenterden.

As the superintendent waits for Susan to join him he has began familiarising himself with the idyllic surroundings.

“The islands are beautiful. Temperatures average around 30C all year round,” he said.

“The wildlife is amazing and I am already planning to provide painting lessons to local residents who enjoy a very vibrant art scene.”

Supt Graham’s experience as an Englishman abroad policing an exotic island, mirrors that of the hapless Det Insp Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshallall corr in the hit BBC1 series Death in Paradise.

The popular light-hearted drama is filmed in the French island of Guadeloupe and follows the exploits of DI Goodman’s crimebusting team on the fictional Carribean island of Saint Marie, and is set for a sixth series in 2017.