An award-winning painter is offering art lovers in Cumbria the opportunity to help create his next piece of work.

Lawrence Coulson will set up his easel and pallet at Treeby and Bolton art gallery in Keswick this bank holiday weekend, where people will be invited to come forward and place their own brush strokes on the blank panel.

Mr Coulson, who is a self-taught landscape specialist, failed his art O-level at school but has since sold paintings for thousands of pounds and has earned several Fine Art Trade Guild awards.

He said: "I've turned up the volume on the colour so it almost jumps off the walls. The pieces are very atmospheric. I've had grown men moved to tears, which is very humbling.

"I got a grade D for art at O-level but maybe I wasn't that motivated back then. And if I had done better and gone to art college, I probably wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now.

"They're all doing digital media or digital art."

Copies of his latest work will also be on sale at the Lake Road gallery and cafe, where Lawrence will also be starting work from scratch on a new oil painting - with a little help from the public.

"I'll invite people to have a go at painting with me," he added.

"It adds a bit of theatre and gets people involved. I won't get anywhere near finishing the piece but I'll take it back to the studio and if they are keen, they can buy it as their own piece of work.

Lawrence will be at the Treeby and Bolton gallery from midday until 4pm on Saturday.

Manager Libbie Barton said: "We are all really looking forward to Lawrence's visit.

"His work is fantastic and it should be great fun for everyone to see him working at close quarters here in the gallery, especially for those brave enough to have a go at painting with him."