A Kesh man is set to host his first art exhibition when he puts his paintings on display this week.

Kyle Ferguson has been painting since he was 12 years old and has always had a keen interest in nature and wildlife.

From buzzards to badgers, fish to foxes, Kyle has put them all down on canvas – and now he is welcoming the public to come and see his talents.

Having built a gallery at home for the exhibition, Kyle will be hoping his art will find a new home and help him raise money for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Kyle is looking forward to the three-day exhibition, and has been pleased with how it has been received: “It has taken a while now and then, with the pandemic, we weren’t able to run anything.

“Definitely, with Facebook it has been great – with advertising, there are a lot of people interested. I think there is going to be a fair wee crowd.”

As well as paintings of local wildlife, there will also be paintings of more exotic animals, such as lions, tigers and elephants.

And while he won’t be seeing a lion prowling through the trees around his home, Kyle has an abundance of animals to paint in the wildlife reserve around his house.

“We have a wildlife reserve. We planted 900 trees, so there’s everything in it, it’s fantastic. You’ll always find something. Now and again you get in to a little rut and can’t find anything to do but it is very seldom.”

There will be 84 pieces on display at the exhibition so Kyle hopes there will be something for everyone. Mugs, cushions, coasters and others prints will also be available at the exhibition.

And while it has taken some time for it all to come together, Kyle is excited, now it has become a reality: “I’m looking forward to it.

“We are off for a few days for the Jubilee. I thought I would run it the same weekend when people are off and they are available to come.”

You can visit Kyle’s KAF Wildlife Art Exhibition from today, Thursday, June 2 to this Sunday, June 5, at No. 106 Pettigo Road, Kesh, BT93 8BY.

All proceeds go to the WWF.