STOURBRIDGE artist Dean Melbourne is hoping to create a major impression when staging a one-man exhibition of his work in London this summer.

The 37-year-old painter recently received lottery funding from the Arts Council which has enabled him to turn full-time.

As part of the deal, Dean will return to lecture at his former college in a scheme entitled Full Circle.

It seems Dean's career is really taking off, having had some of his work displayed at London's latest art fair, Art14 in Olympia.

He's also just made his first venture abroad through his gallery, Bristol based Coates and Scarry, by having four pieces of work displayed at the Affordable Arts Fair in New York.

Originally from Kingswinford, Dean studied at the former Longlands site of Stourbridge College (now Birmingham Metropolitan College).

Although Dean can't go back to the original Longlands site, which closed in 2011, he is instead going back to talk with students at B-Met's state-of-the-art art and design campus in Venture Way, Brierley Hill, where he will be linking up with his former lecturer Andy Sylvester.

He said: "I want to give the students the benefits of my journey and how I started out, especially those who are considering making a career in art.

"I specialise in figurative oil painting where I try to give a contemporary feel, although some of my work can be quite intense.

"I'm selling quite a bit of my work, not massive amounts, but I'm selling more regularly.

"I'm lucky that I can create the work I want to make and don't have to sell it if necessary, although you often find that most artists will have a sideline."

Dean recently staged an open studio at his premises in Titan House in Old Wharf Road, Stourbridge.

But at the moment he's busy creating work for his London exhibition which will take place in July at Gallery 8 in Duke Street.