A renowned artist living in Bridport is to give a talk in front on his epic war painting in a fundraiser for Ukraine.

Hugo Grenville's extraordinary painting Soul by Soul and Silently is currently being exhibited at St Mary's Church in South Street, Bridport and is the focus for weekly vigils.

His illustrated talk at the venue this weekend examines the history of Western art in moments of crisis and war.

Mr Grenville's experience as a war artist and his knowledge of the history of art is said to be vast and though his paintings are known around the world this is his first public foray into the local community.

Soul by Soul and Silently was exhibited by the Société des Artistes Français at its annual Salon, the oldest and most prestigious exhibiting society in the world. The 6ft-wide painting, inspired by the unfolding tragedies in Syria, Iraq and Palestine, was on display at the Grand Palais in Paris in 2014.

The scene, which is entirely imagined, shows a displaced family gathered amongst the debris of smashed buildings: a young woman talks to a soldier, a mother holds her dead son across her lap, a girl raises her hands towards the soldier, and behind her an old man stares out bleakly; in the foreground some young boys are huddled, one of them holding a baby wrapped in a blanket.

In the distance the silhouettes of buildings destroyed by shellfire stand out against the sky. The West, represented by the NATO soldier in the picture on the left, is powerless to help.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

Mr Grenville, pictured above, said: "I painted this picture at the start of the Syrian civil war, and it was exhibited at the Paris Salon the following year.

"As we settle down to Easter in the West, it’s heartbreaking to think that war, with all its destruction, still rages, and that brutal dictators and military juntas seem to grow in strength."

The painting can be viewed at St Mary's on weekdays from 10am-4pm or during any of the services.

Mr Grenville's talk, 'Painting Hope', is at St Mary's at 5pm on Sunday, April 3.

Tickets £5 on the door or in advance via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/painting-hope-renowned-war-artist-hugo-grenville-talks-tickets-292655760257?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

All proceeds will go to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal through the Disaster Emergency Committee - helping people who are fleeing conflict in Ukraine with shelter, food and water.