A PICTURE paints a thousand words - but Bolton artist Nick Taylor's latest artwork is set to evoke a thousand memories for football fans.

Lifelong Wanderers fan Nick Taylor, aged 30, has created a modern version of the world famous "Going To The Match" painting by LS Lowry.

It replaces Bolton's old ground, Burnden Park, captured on canvas in the original, with the Reebok Stadium as hordes of fans get ready to watch a football match.

Mr Taylor, a teacher of art at Manchester College of Arts and Technology, created the painting to portray his own excited anticipation of walking to the ground. It has now been loaned to Bolton Wanderers, where it adorns the wall of the boardroom at the Reebok.

The original, "Going To The Match", was created in 1953 by Lowry and features his famous matchstick men on their way to a match the former Bolton Wanderers ground at Burnden Park.

It was snapped up at auction by the Professional Footballers Association for £2 million in 1999 and is on display at The Lowry, in Salford Quays.

Mr Taylor, a former Thornleigh Salesian College student, who completed a Fine Art degree at Sunderland University, has been watching the Wanderers since he was aged six.

He has also produced portraits of Nigerian and Wanderers ace Jay Jay Okocha.

Both pictures are created in pastel using Mr Taylor's approach of applying pastels layer-upon-layer in certain areas which enhances the tones and gives his work a tremendously vibrant quality.

The method was born from his love of painting with oils and a series of his work looking at reflections after rainfall. He says it enables him to capture the light, ambience and sense of movement that a football crowd generates.

He said: "The most effective training I had as an artist was when I was visiting cafs and bars, and I sketched people when they were at their most relaxed - trying to capture the movement of a person with just a few lines.

"This has helped with 'Going To The Match' as I didn't have any photographs to go off, so I had to go from memory of studying the way people move and interact."

"Bolton Wanderers supporters have an opportunity to own a reproduction of the painting with print-only costing £39.99, mounted £49.99 and framed £89.99. All 1,000 prints are signed and can be purchased via the Bolton Wanderers Superstore, online superstore - bwfc.co.uk/bwfcsuperstore - and orderline on 0845 124 9828.