BOLTON-born artist Paul Matosic is returning to the North-west with a piece of art he admits is "rubbish".

It consists of a large number of pieces made from litter collected from the streets of Nottingham, where he now lives, and put on a plinth.

The 48-year-old is to exhibit the work in Manchester at the end of the month, when it will join that of 12 other artists whose work deals with the fallout from today's consumer society.

Paul was born in Bradshaw and attended St Columbus Primary School and Turton High School. After working as a landscape gardener and factory worker, he won a place at Bolton College of Art.

Paul says he has been inspired by the post-industrial and urban landscapes of the North-west and the waste produced by society. "An ideal day out for me would be to go to Old Trafford and wander around the the old factories, drawing, taking photos and making sculptures," said Paul.

"I also liked Jumbles reservoir in Bolton, where there were a lot of factories which used to provide lots of material.

"My latest work is made up of a whole variety of objects, from coloured plastic and fluffy slippers to bits of cars and an old briefcase.

"I have come back to the North-west because this exhibition came up and they wanted to show my work.

"It makes the show more special for it to be near home and Manchester has a great cultural vibrancy at the moment. I would like to show in Bolton, but so far there has not been an opportunity for me to do so."

Paul's work will be on display at The Northern Quarter Gallery, Thomas Street, Manchester, from January 30 to February 13, from noon to 6pm daily.