THE work of an Oxford artist is being enjoyed by thousands of people after being displayed in an unusual exhibition on a London bridge.

David Paskett, who lives in Headington, was one of four artists chosen to have an original watercolour reproduced and displayed on a 246-metre roadside hoarding along Blackfriars Bridge.

The exhibition was organised jointly by Network Rail and the Bankside Gallery, with each image measuring about three metres by 1.5 metres.

Mr Paskett, 66, is the president of the Royal Watercolour Society, which is based at the gallery.

He said: “It is quite significant for me because I used to paint in that area when I was a student at Hornsey Art College in the 1960s. It was one of the places I really enjoyed painting.”

He did the painting for the exhibition, Blackfriars, about two years ago.

Blackfriars Station is undergoing major redevelopment, which the gallery feared could stop people visiting.

So staff got together with Network Rail to provide a boost for Bankside, and the Thames Watercolours initiative was born.

Bankside Gallery director Angela Parker said: “We are delighted to be working with Network Rail on this exciting project.

“These colourful paintings and prints by renowned Royal Society artists should brighten everybody’s day.”

Mr Paskett, who moved to Oxford 20 years ago to be a painter in residence at the Pitt Rivers Museum, Parks Road, said he was proud to see his painting — and his name — given such prominence.

He said: “It makes you feel a little bit giggly having one’s name almost up in lights.

“In those days when I was a 17- or 18-year-old student, I didn’t ever think my name would be up there on the bridge.

“I can’t quite believe it.”

The four paintings were unveiled on Thursday and will remain in place for 12 months.

Shadow arts minister and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, who was at the launch, said: “It’s great a company like Network Rail is supporting the arts in this way.”

The other three paintings are First Light at Farringdon by Gail Brodholt, Blackfriars Bridge Looking East by John Duffin, and Shakespeare in Love by Mychael Barratt.