AN EXHIBITION by an award-winning artist has officially opened at a Bolton studio.

Trevor Abbott, winner of the prestigious 2014 biennial neo:printprize, is showing the 'The Contingent Image’ exhibition at neo:gallery27.

The exhibition explores the nature of digital images that today we can send virtually anywhere and anytime from an array of sources.

Mr Abbott said: "These source images are 'poor images' and I use printmaking, predominately screen printing which is essentially a binary process concerned with layers, to recover or fix these 'poor images' from the field possibilities within which these images circulate.

"The prints in the show start with a digital image extracted from various online sources such as ‘Youtube’ and the majority of these images relate to Bolton or its locality.

"The word ‘contingent’ is used in the sense that each print is the result of a number of processes through which the image has passed. The intention of the work in ‘The Contingent Image’ is to consider whether the image represents reality or is reality found in the conditions of the image’s existence".

Mr Abbott, who was born in Leeds and resumed his art education in London where he specialised in printmaking, was awarded a 12 week, all expenses paid residency at neo:studios during the summer of 2015 sponsored by The University of Bolton and GreatArt.

He was welcomed by neo:studios Creative Director Jason Simpson, Studio Manager Denis Whiteside and the community of local artists working in the studios as well as colleagues from the University of Bolton.

Mr Abbott said: "The time I spent in Bolton at neo:studios has been remarkably significant and influential on my understanding of the local art scene and, more importantly, the neo:residency has been invaluable with regards access to printmaking facilities, studio space and technical support, and has provided me with the opportunity to focus on my ideas".

The exhibition runs until January 3 next year. The gallery is open from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm Thursday to Sunday.