A TALENTED rugby player turned artist is holding an exhibition at his home, which also doubles as his studio.

Richard Wills once starred on the rugby field, narrowly missing out on national honours, before he turned his focus to painting.

Some of his subjects have included rugby players Neil Jenkins, Cliff Morgan and Martyn Williams, with his work commissioned by the Welsh Rugby Union and the International Rugby Board.

The 73-year-old has not stopped painting for the past 50 years, but has finally found the time to exhibit at his home in Monmouth for the first time in 11 years.

The collection, which the public can view from November 16-18, is made up of around 50 of his works and it will be the first time he has had his 3D sculptures on show.

His most recent piece was for 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) to commemorate their time in Afghanistan and the longest he has spent on a portrait is 12 months, when the subject was Lord Tonypandy.

“I paint most days and I get great pleasure out of it. Every time I work it’s a challenge,” he said.

The exhibition is at Mansard House, Vine Acre, on the Hereford Road and is open from 11am to 7pm on the Friday and Saturday and from 11pm to 5pm on the Sunday.