A talk on the life of the Victorian artist Richard Beavis, who grew up in Sidmouth, is being organised by the Sid Vale Association on Wednesday, January 10.

Local historian Nigel Hyman will present 'Richard Beavis remembered - a Sidmouth artist' at All Saints Hall at 2.30 pm.

Beavis was born in Exmouth in 1824  but his family moved to Sidmouth when he was four and his mother died of consumption three years later. His father, a boot and shoemaker, wanted him to learn the cobblers' trade and join his business, but Richard had a genius for drawing.  Because he had no paper, he sketched his pictures of horses, dogs, cows, sheep and people on the whitewashed walls of his home - to the fury of his father.

However, his work was appreciated by a neighbour, the Reverend Nicholas Heineken, who recognised Beavis's talent. He gave Beavis art materials and persuaded his father to let him train in London, which he did in 1846, now aged 22. The first few years were difficult for him, but he succeeded in becoming an eminent artist and eventually spent long periods overseas.  His greatest talent remained his painting and drawing of horses, which feature in many of his works. His paintings still sell well today.

A book on the artist's life has been written by his great-grand-daughter, Clare Wiggill, and her husband Theo, who were living in Australia  but moved to Sidmouth several years ago to research and write about his associations with the town. The book is titled Richard Beavis, Art, Life and Times.