LEADING building expert, designer and artist Peter Wadey died aged 75 on Thursday, June 6.

Peter was a meticulous and hard-working professional who devised innovative architectural projects for many residents in Poole and Bournemouth during a career spanning more than 50 years.

He was called as an expert witness in building engineering and surveying matters at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

And using the pseudonym Peter Bailey, his striking pencil sketches of buildings and landscapes proved popular in the 1990s with tourists and locals, particularly in Lulworth.

The second of his parents’ four children, he was born in Croydon on November 20, 1943.

After leaving school he studied to become a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, later taking a prestigious job as Nationwide Building Society’s area chartered surveyor for Dorset and Hampshire while in his 20s.

The seeds of his affection for Poole were sowed during childhood family holidays and he moved to the area himself in the late 1960s to take advantage of the beautiful scenery and his passion for sailing.

Peter spent most of his time living in Lower Parkstone, settling with his family in Durrant Road.

After setting up his own practice, his reputation as an influential authority in his field led to him being called as an expert in the landmark Court of Appeal case Watts v Morrow in 1991. The ruling was subsequently taught to law students in England and Wales for more than 20 years.

When the housing market slowed in the early 1990s, Peter took this as an opportunity to branch out and combine his expertise with his passion for art.

As well as proving popular with tourists who bought his drawings at local shops, his burgeoning reputation led to him being commissioned to draw everything from thatched cottages to family portraits.

Peter later became more interested in architecture and made it his business to help create extra space in homes, predominantly through inventive loft conversion schemes. His success in this area led to him being asked to design bespoke houses in the 2000s.

He continued to work full-time until he was 72.

Peter enjoyed his retirement, particularly the time he spent with his beloved granddaughters Ella, Annabelle and Helena - who he made howl with laughter every time he saw them.

He leaves behind his devoted wife of 43 years Jeanne and sons Matthew, Joseph and Toby.