AN ‘undiscovered’ artists exhibition is taking to Lymm this weekend.

A show of Geoffrey Key’s work – widely considered to be one of the UK's most important contemporary artists – will take place at Collect Art in the village.

Owner Martin Heaps hopes it will allow more people to be aware of his work in his 80th year.

“It really is special to have it in Lymm,” said Martin, who has been in Lymm for 12 years.

“Geoffrey’s work is widely collected around the world. It’s mainly collectors that buy them but Joe Bloggs in the street doesn’t know who Geoffrey is – and that is what we want to do to bring a show of his work from different decades.

“He’s the undiscovered artist in a way. A lot of collectors would say ‘you’ve been selling him for years’ which is right, but Joe Bloggs on the street hasn’t heard of Geoffrey in most cases.”

Martin is originally an art collector-cum-dealer and once bought a painting of Geoffrey’s without knowing at an auction.

Now, he has six decades of his work in the gallery.

“The show isn’t about inspiring painting, Geoffrey wants the show for people to be able to come and see them and to see a cross-section of his work,” Martin said.

“Local artists are very important.

“That’s why it is so important that people see his work. He’s alive, kicking and painting and you’re seeing pretty much six decades of work here."

Around 40 pieces of art are hung in the gallery, which takes you on a journey through time to show how his work has progressed.

Martin continued: “The thickness of the paint, the style and the colour which is unique to Gefforey. That’s what it’s all about with Geoffrey and that’s what identifies an artist when you can wander into a room and you know who it is painted by.

“From the 60s and all those different periods, Geoffrey has kept lots of elements like vertical lines, the stripes, the sun, the moon and cloud formations."

Geoffrey, from Salford, is an all-rounder whether that be excelling in paintings and sculptures, often based around horses.

Martin said: “A lot of work goes into them.”

“He’s 80 this year, he wants the work to be seen and if you’re interested in art come and have a look and come and meet him."

The collection can be visited from tomorrow, Friday – Sunday, and Geoffrey will be there on Friday.