A RETIRED Bolton headteacher is rediscovering his passion for art.

Gerry Maloney, who led St Gregory’s RC Primary School in Farnworth and St Theresa’s RC Primary in Little Lever, is staging an exhibition of his work at Café Create in Bolton.

The exhibition captures churches and cathedrals throughout the country.

Mr Maloney, aged 63, said: “I wanted to be an artist at the age of 12, but it never happened. Now, 50 years later, I am showing my second exhibition at Café Create. I staged the first one in 2015.”

He added: “There are 35 pieces in the exhibition, some of which I did a couple of years back.

“The most recent is of St Laurence, my favourite church in Bradford-on-Avon.”

The exhibition is designed to capture the power of stone and its simplicity which can be transformed, reflecting Michelangelo’s quote about every block of stone having the potential to be something great.

His work also depicts Canterbury Cathedral and York Minister, and the paintings are for sale.

The money will be donated to the Christian Churches work in Syria.

Mr Maloney, although retired, continues to spend time in schools and churches passing on his passion for art as artist-in-residence to help children see the world in a different way and encouraging them to think creatively.

He said: “In school we had a creative-based curriculum for the children.”

Mr Maloney has also included pieces from one of his former pupils in the exhibition.