TWENTY years after last stepping foot on Bournemouth beach budding artist Michael Campling has returned to create this colourful painting of the seafront.

Michael grew up in Bournemouth as a boy in the 1960s before his family emigrated to Durban, South Africa, in 1969.

Now he has decided to capture the hustle and bustle of the Bournemouth’s western beachfront promenade in acrylic paint.

The painting is A1 size and Michael said he worked solidly for seven weeks – approximately 300 hours – to finish his work of art.

With Hengistbury Head in the distance, Michael has also captured the Imax, the pier, the Bournemouth Eye and the land train.

“I did a lot of research, taking hundreds and hundreds of photo-graphs and going to see all the different buildings.

“I am very glad I have finished. It was a lot of work and there is a lot of minute detail in it.

“Bournemouth has changed a lot since I last came here around 20 years ago. It is a lot busier and built up.”

Michael, who works in the car design industry, will return to South Africa at the end of the year.

“It has been a fascinating personal exercise to capture the scene as it is today and to re-awaken faded memories.”