Memory and imagination mingle in colourful canvases being hung in Great Yarmouth's Library galleries this week.

Eastern Daily Press: Ernie Childs is exhibiting some of his latest paintings at Great Yarmouth Library. The event follows the success of his first exhibtion in his home town last year.Ernie Childs is exhibiting some of his latest paintings at Great Yarmouth Library. The event follows the success of his first exhibtion in his home town last year. (Image: Archant)

For painter and potter Ernie Childs is back with a flourish after last year's maiden exhibition in his home town - the first in his 60 year career.

So successful was the display, attracting over 100 people a day and 1500 in total, he is back by popular demand with some people even organising their holidays around the exhibition.

Sharing the space will be around 30 of his students working in oils and watercolours and all hailing from the local area as far as Sheringham.

Karen Childs who runs The Potteries with husband Ernie nestled against the old town wall, said he was keen to show off his diverse talents.

As well as his trademark, bygone scenes the exhibition will also feature pen and ink drawings and pictures of faces - although he is best-known for his traditional tableaus.

In all around 124 pictures are being hung, some of them by Ernie's 30 or so students a handful of whom have picked up a brush for the first time and proved themselves worthy contributors.

Karen said the couple were bowled over by the level of support and would carry on exhibiting as long as there was an appetite for it.

Ernie, she said, was especially pleased to be able to showcase the work of his students who varied in age from their 20s to their 80s. Giving them the opportunity to talk to art-lovers and gain an audience for their work as well as an appreciation of what went into a gallery exhibition would give many of them a real boost, she added.

Most of the pictures are for sale with prices starting at £25.

The exhibition starts on Tuesday and ends on Saturday, June 21, except Sundays. Ernie and Karen Childs will be there from 9.30am to 11.30am on Saturday June 14 and all day on June 21.