A TALENTED 91-year-old Keighley artist and war veteran is finally being able to exhibit his diverse range of work again.

William Wadsworth Smith, who lives in Riddlesden, used to have his pictures on display in a gallery in Haworth.

But since these premises closed down several years ago he has had to keep about 170 of his paintings in his own home, where they have been inaccessible to most of the public.

However, earlier today (Oct 19) he was delighted to be present at the beginning of a two-week exhibition of his paintings in Central Hall, Alice Street, Keighley.

The works have received an enthusiastic response. Two of his paintings had already been sold before 1pm.

Among the 30 works on show are portrayals of Keighley district street scenes, landscapes from across the UK, impressionistic modern artworks and detailed paintings of the natural world.

Mr Wadsworth Smith said he stopped painting a few years ago, but had enjoyed this pursuit for decades from the age of 15, even continuing to paint when he was posted to India with the army after the Second World War.

"I've sold some of my paintings to American and Japanese tourists," he said.

"I use water colours and oils and have painted locations in Keighley, Haworth, the Yorkshire Dales and other places.

"It's important for me to be able to exhibit my work. I'm not well known in Keighley – apart from those people who know me from when I taught art in the old Keighley College."

Mr Wadsworth Smith was born in Keighley in 1925 and was brought up in Showfield.

During the Second World War he served as a wireless operator on Lancaster and Halifax bombers.

Following the conflict he was sent to Northern Ireland to train as an anti-tank gunner. He was then transferred to the army and sent to India where he was stationed in what was then Calcutta and Bombay.

He returned to Keighley after he was demobilised in 1948. He was married in 1952 and continued painting, producing many modern type works based on his observations of the creations of artists such as Picasso.

Mr Wadsworth Smith said he took particular pride in producing paintings of old Keighley. These works include pictures featuring some of the town's local pubs which closed down many years ago.

A detailed depiction of a view of Church Street – looking from the direction of Bridge Street – forms part of his exhibition in Central Hall.

There are also paintings of East Riddlesden Hall, the Turkey Inn, at Goose Eye, Haworth Parish Church and Bolton Abbey.