DETAILED drawings by an 89-year-old who has sketched since the start of the Second World War have been hailed as “remarkable” by exhibition attendees.

The artwork of Alan Pursey was displayed at Rosebank Park, in Main Road, Dovercourt, on November 14 for residents and visitors to view.

Throughout his life Alan, who lives in Dovercourt, travelled via campervan around the county with his wife June.

On his travels he took his own photographs and then sketched his favourite landmarks from the images.

But the pensioner sadly lost his wife and best friend of 64 years recently, and wanted help getting through his grief.

So Suzanne Howe, from United in Kind, and Kirsti Ayling, from Friends and Neighbours Essex, met Alan after they discovered he had shown his bereavement cafe friends his sketches from over the decades.

The pair then decided to hold a one-day exhibition of Alan’s work at Rosebank Park as he had always dreamed of having his work published.

Kirsti said the exhibition was a great success, and despite the rain the turnout was tremendous.

She added: “Alan can’t believe the interest in his art.

“He is literally amazed and so happy to get his artwork out there shared.

“He now hopes to get his actual sketch book of Colchester published, then we have literally made a man’s dream come true.”

Following the success of the exhibition, the Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre has decided to run a three-week exhibition of his work in January.

Kirsti and Suzanne are getting postcards of Alan’s most exquisite pieces and putting them up for sale.