WELSH rock star Nicky Wire is to stage his first-ever solo art exhibition in the Pembrokeshire town close to his heart.

The Manic Street Preachers bassist and lyricist has a home in Tenby where the exhibition will open next month at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery.

Nicky, a regular visitor to the Castle Hill museum, accepted an invitation from curator Mark Lewis to do the show.

Entitled Paintings and Polaroids, it will feature around 30 pictures.

Many will show his influences and heroes in a series entitled Pictures On My Wall, which includes images of David Bowie, Dylan Thomas, Philip Larkin, John Uzzell Edwards, Marilyn Monroe, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and photographer Vivian Maier.

"It's a real coup for the museum," said Mark, who has made several visits to Nicky's studio in Newport, Gwent, to discuss the artwork.

"I'm extremely excited by the show and proud that Nicky has chosen Tenby Museum for his first solo show, as the Manics are such an influential Welsh band."

The exhibition's opening ceremony and private viewing will take place on September 14 - 20 years to the date of the release of one of the Manics' most successful albums, This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours.

The show will be open to the public from Saturday September 15 to Sunday October 21 and can be seen daily between 10am and 5pm (last admission 4.30pm).