Picture a day for Cheltenham artist

WHEN artist Dan Young had a studio installed in his house, he came up with an almighty challenge to make sure he used it.

The 38-year-old vowed to create a new painting every day.

creative: Artist Dan Young produces a different work of art every day. Pictured, some of Dan's pieces showing banjos, buttons and countryside scenes

Nearly four years – and more than 1,000 pieces – later, he is still going strong.

The Cheltenham resident, who works as a fine art technician at the University of Gloucestershire, said he has managed to stick to his plan.

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And he has now created his next scheme to keep him using the studio.

He said: "I have not missed doing one yet.

"If I missed one I think I would have to stop.

"I'm a little bit surprised but the biggest surprise was that after I did the first year, I thought 'I can do another'.

"It's almost a challenge to do it again."

To mix it up and keep himself interested, he has focused on a different method each year.

The first year saw an oil painting produced each day and the second a water colour.

Even Christmas did not bring a day off. "I painted a little Christmas hat last year and have done one of my presents or a mince pie," said Dan, from Alstone, who draws his daily inspiration from what he sees around him.

"I live with my partner, Debbie Spencer, and I think she really enjoys it as she gets to see them first," he added.

The last 10 months have seen the artist produce digital images through finger painting on his iPad which sees him trace the image of a photograph. These include landscapes, flowers, fruit and even a copy of the Echo.

At the end of the fourth year of the challenge in November, Dan will have produced 1,461 pieces.

For many people this would be mission accomplished and enough to earn a day off but not for Dan.

He has now decided to produce one giant piece of work next year.

Each day will see him add a new object to a canvas spanning more than four foot by three foot.

The images are uploaded to Dan's blog at www.danyoungdaily.blog spot.com