OLVESTONIANS’ favourite pop-exhibition looks set to become a permanent fixture in the village as resident artist Angus Macaskill strives to keep up with the ever-growing demand.

After painting a series of “upbeat” tableaux commemorating the summer’s sporting highlights and royal news on his house gates turned canvas, Mr Macaskill chose to explore darker themes.

He later tackled some of the world's most acclaimed masterpieces, daubing a perfect replica of Rodin's The Thinker and Turner's Fishermen at Sea outside Churchill House. The painter is now back to his old tricks with a warm and peaceful beach landscape, and a Gromit thrown in for good measure, and a seasonal Harvest scene.

“During the second part of the summer, I found that choosing suitable subjects for the gates was quite difficult,” he told the Gazette. “Still, the weather was very pleasant and I was enjoying the ongoing support of so many passers-by, even some who came out specially to see the gates. I really wanted to continue.

“There would probably have been quite a few (very low key) complaints if I had stopped early.

“In the end I rather followed my nose. The moonlit scene by JMW Turner of Fishermen at Sea was the real favourite of mine that has set the structure for all that has followed. It was fun turning that into a daytime version of the same view.”

He added: “Adding a face view of Gromit put a smile on many faces, not just youngsters. Although many of these wanted to claim they had now seen the 81st Gromit, their parents were usually more realistic.”

Although innocuous at first sight, his latest harvest-themed work, depicting a sunbathed field, deals with a very topical issue, climate change and the need to preserve our resources. Eagle-eyed fans will spot a power lead dangling down from the sun thought-provoking artwork.