A SOLDIER based at York’s Imphal Barracks has painted a series of pictures depicting his experiences while serving out in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Richard Salter, of 2 Signal Regiment, who returns to York later this month after a six-month tour of duty in Kabul, said he was also a professional artist.

He said he had served in the British Army for more than 16 years and painted throughout his military career, whether on operations, training or at home.

He was an associate of the Armed Forces Art Society and a member of the Army Arts Society, and last August he was presented with an award by the former society for one of his works, a painting of an artist called More than a Number.

He told how he started studying art in his last year at school but wanted to see the world and joined the army when he was 16, but studied fine art at Buckinghamshire University, completing an honours degree in creative art, painting and drawing Sgt Salter, who is married to Vicky and has three children, who live in Fulford, revealed he was also lined up to paint some celebrities when he got back to the UK, including Barbara Windsor, Dame Kelly Homes, Bernard Cribbins and some members of the Emmerdale cast.