FAMILY and friends of a Gourock artist who lost his battle with leukaemia are opening an exhibition of his work to raise money for charity.

In a moving tribute to Alan Duncan - a leading architect who devoted his life to his own community - his grieving wife Val and close friends are putting together a show of hundreds of his paintings, portraits and sketches.

Over the years the kind-hearted family man raised thousands of pounds for causes close to his heart.

Sadly the 74-year-old lost his six-month battle with the illness last October and now a collection of his best loved works will go on sale at Gourock Golf Club.

Val, 74, said: "I wanted to donate the paintings and raise money for charity. Alan wouldn't have wanted them left in a drawer, hidden away.

"He loved to paint and help people."

Alan rediscovered his love of painting after retiring from his high profile role as a partner at the leading Parr Architects firm.

During his working life he designed buildings like National Semi Conductor, RBS Mortgage Centre and the SECC in Glasgow.

Born and brought up in Pennyfern, Alan was also a talented musician, playing the string piano in the The Blue Notes band.

It was during a tour with his band in London during the 1960s that he met his future wife Val.

Alan was a key member of the Gourock Rotary Club, using his talents to sell portraits in aid of their charity Disaster UK.

He was also on the board of River Clyde Homes, a former captain of Gourock Golf Club, a member of Gourock Curling Club, Greenock Medical Aid Society and Stroke Matters Inverclyde.

Last year the Tele told how he battled on to keep a promise to Val that he would make their golden wedding anniversary.

Alan died five weeks later leaving Val, son Stewart, daughter Sally, son-in-law Vincent and three grandsons.

The much-loved husband, dad and grandad had suffered from poor health for a number of years but his family was stunned when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and given weeks to live.

He left behind a legacy of hundreds of beautiful portraits and landscapes which filled a studio in his house in Castle Levan, Gourock.

|His best friend David Burnie is also a musician and member of Gourock Golf Club. is helping Val set up the exhibition along with his wife Elizabeth, friend Ian Samual and his wife Liz.

David said: "Alan was such a big part of all our lives. He raised so much for charity. This is something that he would have wanted."

The money raised from the exhibition will go to Leukaemia UK and the Greenock Medical Aid Society.

The exhibition at the Gourock Golf Club will launch next Thursday and will run into the New Year.