And next month street artist Mik Artistik will show off some of his unique works of art in a new exhibition in Leeds.

The 53-year-old uses a simple biro and brown paper bags to create his masterpieces, trawling the city's streets for his subjects.

And from the start of November his efforts will be on show on the walls of The Reliance pub in North Street.

Mik said: "I'll also be around some of the time. I might sketch some of the visitors to the show or even the pub's customers."
Beeston-bred Mik has spent years roaming around asking people if they would like to be "bagged."

Mik, who now lives in Armley, first began drawing at four, doodling in his mother's Women's Own magazines. But he only took it up seriously 25 years ago after studying at Bradford Art College.

He can turn out a caricature of someone – on his trademark brown paper bag – in minutes and is a well-known face in the pubs and clubs of Leeds.

The paper bag idea came when the grandad was in a shop in his native Ireland.

He told the YEP earlier this year: "I was trying to sober up this old drunken poet and get him home.

"I saw the bags on the counter and thought 'I wonder if I can sell someone a paper bag.' I approached a big fella in the pub again and he gave me a few quid for the picture."

If you can't wait until next month, an exhibition of Mik's works is on display in The Main Bar, Bradford Playhouse Theatre, Chapel Street, Little Germany, Bradford (01274 820666).
Multi-talented Mik also fronts a band, Mik Artistik's Ego Trip, which played at this summer's Glastonbury.

* For more details visit: www.mikartistik.com or ring 07890 353709.