LOCAL artist Gerald Thornton is celebrating his 91st birthday with a special exhibition at The George Café in Newnham-on-Severn, showcasing a lifetime of painting inspired by the industrial and cultural heritage of the Forest of Dean.

The exhibition, A Lifetime of Painting, also marks the recent launch of his second book, Living My Dream, and is part of the Forest of Dean Fringe 2025 arts festival.

Born in Five Acres in 1934, Mr Thornton grew up in a working-class mining family, one of six children. His father worked in the Forest’s coal industry, and the harsh yet close-knit mining community of his childhood left a lasting impression.

Although he showed artistic talent from a young age, financial circumstances meant he left school at 15 to train as a carpenter. He spent his working life in the construction industry, but painting remained a lifelong passion, one that he taught himself in his spare time.

Since retiring in 1999, Mr Thornton has dedicated himself to painting full-time, capturing the textures, landscapes, and history of the Forest. His work often focuses on industrial themes, evoking the life and struggles of the mining communities that shaped him.

“My paintings enable me to remember who I am and where I was born, growing up in a working-class mining community through the Second World War and beyond,” said Mr Thornton. “The cottage where I was born, and many others like it, have long since disappeared, along with the community culture of that time. But these changes cannot steal the images that live on in my mind.”

His Forest Heritage Collection, which will feature in the exhibition, includes pieces such as Leaving Cannop Behind, a powerful depiction of his father walking home from Cannop Colliery at the end of a shift.

Another piece, The Tin Bath, recalls childhood memories of his father returning home from work, “desperate to rid himself of the day’s dirt and grime” in the small tin bath, a staple of mining families.

Mr Thornton’s artistic journey has also extended beyond painting. In 2018, he published his first book, Better Late Than Never, reflecting on his life and work. Earlier this year, he followed it with Living My Dream, further documenting his experiences, inspirations, and artistic evolution.

His exhibition at The George Café will run from Tuesday, March 10, to Saturday, March 22, opening daily from 11AM to 4PM. Entry is free, and visitors will have the opportunity to purchase original paintings, prints, and copies of his books.

As part of the exhibition, Mr Thornton will also take part in a special Thursday Talk at The George Café on March 13 at 7:30PM, where he will be in conversation with Jason Griffiths to discuss his life, artistic career, and the stories behind his paintings.

For those who appreciate art rooted in local history and personal experience, A Lifetime of Painting offers a rare glimpse into the rich heritage of the Forest of Dean through the eyes of one of its most dedicated chroniclers.