THE ARTIST, producer and presenter behind Art Attack will be appearing at a gallery in St Albans this weekend to unveil his debut art collection.

Neil Buchanan will be appearing at Gallery Rouge on Chequer Street on Sunday to launch his brand new collection: a powerful, nostalgic series of 12 signed, limited edition, prints all about the story of childhood.

Neil’s Hope Street Collection has already arrived at Gallery Rouge and will be on display during the countdown to Christmas.

He was inspired to create the new collection after a sinister rumour sprang up on Facebook three years ago, and one that persists to this day, that Neil had died. He was moved to reflect and record the brighter days of his childhood growing up in the “great outdoor adventure playground” in Liverpool in the 1960s, when children were free to play outside.

Neil will prove he’s very much alive with his appearance at the gallery between 2pm-4pm this Sunday, during which he will talk about the inspiration behind his debut collection.

He will personally dedicate any works of art or souvenir brochures bought on the December 4 and customers who purchase a limited edition print will be given ‘A Little Hope’, a ready-to-hang stretched canvas for free, normally priced at �75. Customers who buy ‘A Little Hope’ on the afternoon will be able to buy the canvas for just �50, which will be accompanied by a free souvenir brochure worth �10.

For 17 years, Neil has been inspiring a generation of young artists and the launch of his first, professional collection is a rather emotional occasion. He said: “I’m a sucker for nostalgia and I hope the paintings of my Hope Street will bring memories of your own childhood flooding back.

“As a performer, I want my pictures to perform for you and take you on a journey down your own Hope Street – to a place where you were free to dream and be whatever and whoever you wanted to be.”

Anybody wanting an invitation to meet Neil can email the gallery at info@galleryrouge.co.uk or call them on 01727 860401. Visit www.galleryrouge.co.uk to preview the collection.