Driver in the frame
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0 he Hawk has always known CM readers . are folk of many hidden talents. It is no surprise to him, then, to learn of the artistic exploits of retired truckie 62-year-old Ricky Clark from Reabrook in Shrewsbury.
Ex-Londoner Ricky is entirely self-taught and has been painting since he was knee-high to an easel. He combines his passions for art and trucks by producing lovingly crafted oil paintings, one of which is a fine portrait of his coal lorry which he drove years ago when he came out of the army.
Ricky, who has osteoarthritis, also paints people and now has three portraits of Diana, Princess of Wales, going into an exhibition that will be part of the Disability Arts in Shropshire Festival planned for 16-25 October. After the festival the warm-hearted artist wants one of the paintings to be given to a hospital or children's home. Ricky recently retired to Shropshire from London and knows the area well as he worked there in the 1970s for Wnodhalls, delivering Shropshire butter from Wellington to the Blackfriars branch of J Sainsbury in London. The Hawk wishes Ricky a peaceful and productive retirement with nothing to disturb him but the sound of bristle on canvas.