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Norwich Market (detail)

Patrick Boswell, an artist based in Norfolk, has spent 12 months working in all weathers on the streets of Norwich to create a new collection of oil paintings.

Better known for his coastal scenes than cityscapes, Boswell's journey around the city has created more than 80 paintings featuring well-known locations in the city to hidden gems.

'Norwich and the streets were a complete revelation. People would stop and chat, not always to admire my work, but to pass on a little bit of interest of the place I was painting," he said.

"They were generous in their interest and good natured in their spirit. Hats off to Norwich people, it was a pleasure to share your experiences and good old Norfolk sense of humour," he added.

Norwich on canvas

Norwich Market, Tombland, Whitefriars Bridge and the Guildhall all feature in Boswell's Norwich, along with The Unthank Arms on Newmarket Street and a view back towards the city from Silver Road.

Ziggurats at the UEA (detail)

The UEA Ziggurats, home to thousands of young people who have chosen to study in Norfolk over the years, are also featured.

Spending a year painting on the streets of Norwich, Patrick Boswell enjoyed being surrounded by members of the public as he worked.

"A lot of people came along with their children and they all wanted to have a go as well. I let one or two have a few dashes with the paintbrush! I must admit that I had to alter things afterwards, but that was quite fun," said Patrick.

"After a while I learnt to either shut down a bit, or just to raise my hand and people knew that I was reaching a critical moment in the painting - but by and large people were quite conscious of what I was trying to do and didn't interrupt too much," he added.

Architectural flavour

Boswell's painting of Norwich are fuelled with colour and light. They also carry a strong architectural flavour.

The broad-brushed oil paintings done on location are far from technical, but they depict all the eras and styles of architecture in more or less the same way, which unifies the series.

Patrick Boswell

Norwich is blessed with gems of architectural splendour. They may be a joy to local people and visitors, but the buildings carry something of a challenge for artists.

"I think because I was trying to capture mainly architectural buildings, the more elaborate they were, the more difficult the subject became - particularly buildings such as Jarrolds and the old National Provincial Building in London Street which is now NatWest," said Patrick.

Patrick, who lives in Wymondham, was an art dealer before turning to painting full-time 15 years ago.

He comes from a long line of Boswells who knew John Crome, JS Cotman and the rest of the acclaimed Norwich School Of Artists - framing and selling their work from galleries in London Street and Tombland.

An exhibition of the work in Boswell's Norwich will be held at the Crome Gallery on Elm Hill, Norwich from Saturday, 26 April until Saturday, 3 May, 2008. The gallery is open every day except Sundays.