HERE is the first glimpse of a major exhibition celebrating the life and work of 'secret Lowry' Eric Tucker.

Around 100 paintings and sketches will be on display at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery from tomorrow, Saturday, until February 23.

Visitors can also see a meticulous recreation of the painter's small front room which doubled as his studio at Eric Tucker: The Unseen Artist.

Warrington Guardian:

Eric's family discovered 370 paintings and thousands of drawings crammed into cupboards, wardrobes and the garden shed when he died last year, aged 86.

Only one of Eric's pieces – Ready for Christmas – had ever been exhibited publicly so in October 2018 his family decided to honour him by putting on a pop-up exhibition at his end-of-terrace house in King George Crescent, Padgate, which attracted 2,000 people.

Since then, the family have been in talks with the Museum and Art Gallery team to give more people the chance to see his work.

Warrington Guardian:

Eric's brother Tony and nephew Joe

They also see it as Eric's final wish as a few months before his death, the former boxer and retired building labourer spoke to his younger brother, Tony, about his dream of an exhibition.

Five museum staff and two volunteers have been making plans for the display, which offers a window on Warrington over almost seven decades, all year with the space transformed over the past three months.

Eric Tucker: The Unseen Artist runs from Saturday until February 23 and is free to visit.