A Weston artist has spoken about his life and work during a stint in Australia that began in 1957.

John Brook, aged 86, was born in Bradford in Yorkshire and used to give a young David Hockney drawing lessons at his boyhood home.

John left for a life in Australia when he was 27, having been inspired to live there after watching Mutiny On The Bounty as a six-year-old in 1935.

After several years working as a designer on Australian television shows, he was able to establish a career in the set-design industry and worked on films such as Mad Max and Babe.

Mel Gibson, Tina Turner and Elizabeth Taylor are just some of the big names he has befriended, and he even visited Elizabeth nine years ago.

He remembers: “Elizabeth was a lovely woman. We exchanged letters over the years and it was a very sad time when she died.”

John continued creating after returning to England around five years ago.

He said: “Without a dream in your life you’re nothing and everyone has the potential to do something great for the world to enjoy.”