SWINDON artist Ken White’s work will be the guest star at a special cocktail evening this month.

Old Town coffee shop and hair salon, Vu:Du, which has recently applied for an evening alcohol license, will welcome the renowned artist, known for his murals and the Scarlet Lady blazed across the nose of every Virgin aircraft, as part of the ongoing art exhibition on May 29.

His original screen print of The Bowl, Town Gardens, will take pride of place at the exhibition during the evening.

The cocktail evening, which will feature the popular Elderflower Bellini, will take place at the Victoria Road venue from 7-11pm.

Caroline Day, founder of the Old Town Gardens Art Work group, whose work is part of the ongoing exhibition installed at Vu:Du until the end of June, said: “The exhibition in Vu:Du was originally designed to advertise The English Folk Song and Dance Society event in the bowl for Thamesdown Community Arts, which was 20p entry.

“Ken will be exhibiting one of only two limited edition copies of the four coloured screen print of The Bowl, Old Town Gardens in Vu:Du.

“His paintings, murals and prints have always depicted social narratives and carry a huge traditional sense of the Swindon community."

“As well as raising their own children both Ken and his wife Jan have had a huge impact on the education of many youngsters in the Swindon community.

“Ken’s murals and screen prints not only livened-up grey areas of the town but also further developed the confidence of his young volunteers.

“Although Ken frequently exhibits his canvases depicting industrial landscapes of historic Great Western Railway working scenes, only a select few have had the opportunity to appreciate his vast collection of original screen-prints dating as far back as the 70’s, designed and printed in Swindon’s Town Hall.The then local Arts Officer Terry Court at Thamesdown Community Arts payed Ken a grand sum of £25 a week to paint murals and hand make screen prints whilst simultaneously teaching young students how to paint.”

The exhibition at Vu:Du currently features works on 90x90cm and 50x50cm canvasses offering impressions of the blossom and magnolia blooming in the Old Town Gardens.

For more information about Ken and his work, visit www.kenwhitemurals.co.uk.