A KILMACOLM man who swapped three decades of being a PE teacher for a career on the canvas is celebrating his first ever exhibition at the Beacon.

Robert ‘Rab’ Wilson's collection of paintings, 'Diverse Identities', will run at the arts centre until the end of October. 

Robert, 71, taught at St Stephen’s High School in Port Glasgow for 33 years before deciding to about-turn and set out on a creative path. 

The artist said he's thrilled to be showcasing a selection of his works in Inverclyde for the first time. 

Robert told the Telegraph: "The Beacon is held in very high esteem all over the world.

"International artists have exhibited here. 

"It's an absolutely fantastic space. 

"To know that someone from the US has exhibited here, and now I’m doing it, is amazing.

"It feels great."

Robert started teaching at St Stephen's in 1976 and left his PE career in 2009.

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He went on to complete a degree in painting and drawing at the University for the Creative Arts in Canterbury. 

The artist says it was great to finally get the chance to pursue his dream. 

Robert added: "I had always been interested in art when I was teaching but never got round to doing anything about it.

"When I was studying for the degree, I really got the chance to develop my particular style."

Robert says Diverse Identities examines how people change over time and looks at individual features and qualities which make everyone unique. 

Everyone featured in the exhibition is known to Robert personally. 

Some of the familiar faces include former Olympic swimmer Kenny Cairns, and cyclists John McAliece and Katie Archibald. 

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Robert said: "I'm interested in what makes each of us individually different. 

"Diversity is inseperable from identity. 

"I wanted to get across feelings about how life changes and all the different people you meet."

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Robert uses materials including paper, sand and cement to provide texture in his works. 

He added: "When you look at the portraits from far away, they look like realism but when you come closer, you find out they're made up of a lot of abstract shapes and different textures."

The artist says he has no doubts about pursuing a career in art, and hopes people from all over Inverclyde and beyond visit the exhibition. 

Robert added: "If I decide to do something, I put 100 per cent into it.

"This is my life pursuit.

"It’s like a job but better than a job."