THE work of a late, great Fishguard artist will feature in a special exhibition at Fishguard Town Hall next month.

Royston Hopson lived in Fishguard for more than 50 years and was a well-loved character. He died in 2003 and left his granddaughter Anneka Hopson a large collection of his work.

Anneka now feels the time is right to show that work to the public in an exhibition sponsored by Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council.

Anneka said: “I’ve got hundreds of pieces and they’ve just been up the attic for the past 10 years, so we feel it’s time to let the people of Fishguard see them.

“My grandfather loved to paint and continued to paint right up until the day before he died.

“Everybody in Fishguard has got something of Royston Hopson’s.”

The collection of work includes some sketches made by Royston during the filming of the original Under Milk Wood film in Fishguard.

Anneka said: “Some of the pieces are from our own private collections which we will be keeping and others will be on sale.”

Royston Hopson led a colourful life, one that was reflected in his work. Born in Hertfordshire in 1927, he joined the Navy at the age of 16 and was posted to Japan, where he witnessed the aftermath of the atomic bomb.

On his return to the UK he began an enduring love affair with his wife Daisy and Pembrokeshire. The couple made their home in Fishguard in 1962 and in 1965 Royston opened the town’s first commercial art gallery, Gallery Un.

A private opening of the latest exhibition will be held on October 3 and the show will run in Fishguard Town Hall until October 31.