Interview with Black Country artist Graham Colboure

In fact, there's not much room left on the walls of our lounge to put up any more of Graham's prints. We've got scenes of Tipton Baths, Coronation Garden, St Matthew's Church, the old Horseley Heath Post Office, and even the Co-op in Union Street. We've got his famous calendar up in our kitchen.

You can often find Graham running painting sessions in Tipton Library, and if you've ever visited our Canal Festival, you will have most definitely seen his paintings of local landmarks and buildings as his is one of the busiest stalls at the event.

I'm meeting Graham in the library, just before his regular afternoon painting class begins.

Graham very kindly gives me a print of his painting 'Charabanc' to accompany this blog. He tells me that the pub in the picture, The Seven Stars, used to be in Princes End.

"I wonder how many people remember the Coronation Dance Hall round the back that burnt down?" says Graham.

"And there was a Snooker Hall at the back too."

I asked Graham why he was particularly drawn to paint local scenes.

"Why not? Take a look at the Black Country's history all around us," he says.

"If I can bring back memories in my painting, it's a job worth doing.

"It always makes me smile to see the looks on people's faces when I show them one of my artworks – you can almost see the memories flooding back," says Graham.

It's clear that he loves his art and the Black Country.

Graham is a keen volunteer at the library, and is more than happy to share his knowledge and talents with people.

"At a Christmas event at the library, I put on a day for the kids to teach them how to paint a tree. There was a steady stream of youngsters who wanted to 'have a go'," says Graham.

My own daughter took part and listened carefully as Graham patiently explained how to paint the background and the tree – we even have this pictured framed and up the in the lounge!

"The kids were so talented,"says Graham.

"You should have seen the looks on the parents' faces when they saw what their kids had painted. I'm hoping they went out and bought them a tin of paints and a brush so they could carry on painting!

"It will give the kids something else to do other than play on their mobile phones!"

Before I leave, Graham gives me a sneak preview of the paintings that will be included in his 2016 calendar. They are, as ever, brilliant and bring back memories of buildings in Tipton that are long gone.

We are very lucky to have such a talented artist as Graham in Tipton, but it leaves me wondering where on earth I'm going to put 'Charabanc"'up in our house. Looks like I'll have to start filling up the walls in the kitchen…..