TREASURED paintings from the early 1900s have been put on the market after their elderly owner decided to sell them through a gallery in her village so they would stay in Wiltshire

Mary Francis, 84, who has lived in Bratton for more than 60 years, wants the paintings to be passed on for people in the area to cherish.

They are the work of her father John Carter, who was born in Trowbridge in 1901 painted regularly up until World War One. He had hoped to go to art school, but the start of hostilities meant he was put to work delivering groceries instead.

He never returned to his artistic dream, and went on to work in various jobs, including in the Trowbridge Spitfire factory during World War Two.

Although some of his childhood paintings have been lost, according to family legend having been destroyed by his mother during the war, his daughter was left three pictures to remember her father by.

Mrs Francis said: “I am thrilled that my dad’s artwork will now be on display. He was always so shy about his paintings.

“I think that could be another reason he never went to art school . I hope that they are bought as a group by someone in the area so that they are a reminder of his time in Westbury.

“Victoria’s workshop is a lovely place to see them on display.”

Victoria Martin, owner of Pond Cross Workshop, Bratton, has now put the pictures on display in her workshop. She said: “Mary came to me and wanted them to be sold on to someone else in the community.

“She has no other family to pass the paintings on to, only three cousins she rarely sees. It would mean a lot to her to see the paintings stay in the area.”

Ms Martin, the daughter of the late steam fanatic Tim Martin, has turned his old workshop on Imber Road into an art gallery and her own workspace, which she opened about a year ago.

She hopes seeing work like John Carter’s there will inspire more people to take up painting, seeing what can be achieved.

“John’s pieces will be on display for everyone to see. They are remarkable paintings for someone who was only 14 at the time,” she said.

“I am privileged that she asked me to take the paintings and I hope that people will come to see them, showcasing the talent and the history our area has to offer.”