PEOPLE and places are Anthony Orme's favourite subjects.

And with several years' experience of painting, the artist has perfected his technique of recreating both on canvas.

Mr Orme, of Eight Acre in Whitefield, has a natural talent for art which he believes he inherited from his mother, who could draw a portrait from memory.

After studying life drawing, still life and calligraphy at the Manchester School of Art and Design, Mr Orme (60) went on to become an engraver and etcher before taking up art professionally some years ago.

He loves his job and travels far and wide for inspiration.

He said: "I do a lot of Manchester scenes but I also travel to France, Italy, even New York to paint. My favourite city is Paris and I have sold some of my work there.

"I like to paint figures and Paris is very busy. I like to paint a building in the background but it's what is happening around the building that interests me."

He returned from New York a few months ago after being commissioned to paint a scene from the city.

"I think it is important to be at the place where I intend to paint, so I travel quite a lot," said Mr Orme.

"A company asked me to paint a picture of New York but I had never been there so I flew there to get the work. I found New York to be something special. It was wall-to-wall people. The busier the better, for me!"

Mr Orme, who is married with two sons, also enjoys painting nudes and semi-nude works of the human form.

He has a studio at home and displays much of his work in his son's gallery, Rome Fine Arts, in Stand Lane, Radcliffe.

However, it is a culmination of all his styles that will feature in an exhibition this month at a gallery in Manchester.

In My View, which features a huge 6ft by 2ft painting of the Bridgewater Hall, opened at the Blyth Gallery in Brazil Street this week and will run until Saturday, October 29.

Opening times are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 11am to 3pm. Contact the gallery on 0161 236 1004 for details.