A RANGE of famous faces are adorning the walls of a Northwich pub thanks to a Winnington artist who stumbled upon a new career.

Lea Willams, 35, is the latest artist to show her work in The Penny Black, in Witton Street, as part of the ArtWork Studios Offsite Gallery.

She paints and draws celebrity portraits and has met many of her subjects, but only discovered her creative side two years ago.

"I always stumble upon things by chance and accident," she said.

"There's no plan, stuff just happens and that's what got me to where I am now."

Lea used to work at Barclays but left in 2012.

She set up her business Rock N Ruby in the autumn of 2012 when she designed and decorated a pair of boots for her daughter, which proved unexpectedly popular.

She works in her converted basement, in Moss Terrace, and uses specialist water, smudge and dirt proof paint on high-tops and bags to create whatever design her customers’ desire from Take That, Lady Gaga and One Direction to Mickey Mouse and Batman.

Lea then found herself working with Robbie Williams tribute act Mike Andrews, who performed at Verdin Park on Saturday, and through him Robbie's charity the Donna Louise Trust.

She met Robbie, and the rest of Take That, and exhibited her work at a comic convention, meeting Craig Charles and the team from Red Dwarf.

Lea is also a big wrestling fan and has exhibited at wrestling conventions in London.

"It's so much fun and I've met some amazing people," she said.

"When you're in a job, like being stuck in a bank for however many years, you're totally oblivious to what you really want to do.

"But now I paint every day, I have my own studio in the basement, I do everything I want to do and it takes me to the right places.

"I'm walking down the path I'm meant to be going down."