THE Acorn Gallery, in Pocklington, is exhibiting the debut collection of fine art painted by Neil Buchanan, the creator, artist, producer and presenter behind the BAFTA award-winning television show Art Attack.

Called Neil Buchanan’s Hope Street, the series of 12 limited-edition prints, depicts the story of childhood in a nostalgic, evocative collection inspired by Neil’s memories of growing up in Liverpool in the early 1960s.

“I want to take you on a special journey,” said Neil, who has signed each print. “This voyage doesn’t involve a long car ride or train trip, because my Hope Street is not a place, it’s a state of mind – and it's a nice place to be. “When I went out to play, I walked down my very own Hope Street every day with the gift that only children truly possess in abundant measure: imagination.”

The launch of Hope Street has come after several years away from the TV cameras, time that has seen the self-taught artist return to his studio. The paintings give a respectful nod to the rich narrative and humour achieved by Norman Rockwell and Jack Vettriano, whom Neil describes as his key influences “I had six million young art critics every week on Art Attack and it was their opinions I cared about most,” said Neil. “Normal people don’t have art hanging on their walls, they have pictures. The greatest honour will be if people like my Hope Street paintings enough to hang them on their walls. That will be the biggest approval rating for me.”

The images are painted with light, flowing brushstrokes that depict a time when children were free to play in the great outdoor adventure before traffic clogged up the streets and cyberspace banished play to the bedroom.

“I’m a sucker for nostalgia and I hope the paintings of my Hope Street will bring memories of your own childhood flooding back,” said Neil.

“As a performer, I want my pictures to perform for you and take you on a journey to a place where you were free to dream and be whatever and whoever you wanted to be.”

The Acorn Gallery, in Market Place, Pocklington, is open from 9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.