Tucked away in St Mary's Mews, locals may have noticed R N Clarke Fine Art.

Situated within what was once a set of Victorian schoolrooms, the gallery is the studio and exhibiting space of Staffordshire artist Richard N Clarke (R N Clarke).

Richard grew up in the coal mining village of Hazel Slade, situated to the South of Cannock Chase, something which has greatly influenced his work.

Speaking about his early years, Richard said: "My dad ran the village shop and the shop backed onto the Chase, that was my playground as a child- a brilliant place to grow up.

"Childhood and teenage hours spent exploring Cannock Chase informed my thoughts and feelings and influenced my development as a landscape painter.

"Living on the Chase made me a landscape painter."

Since before he can remember, Richard has enjoyed painting.

He remembers being told by his mother, on several occasions, that when he began nursery school he wouldn't talk to the other pupils.

Richard said: "The head of the nursery decided to take me to her office to see if she could get me to open up.

"She gave me paper, paints and water and a paint brush.

"I filled the walls of her office with my paintings and still wouldn't talk."

As an artist, Richard's work is influenced by his Christian experiences and beliefs.

He currently has an exhibition of 16 paintings at St Mary's Church which he created in response to the Gospel of St Mark, each of the pictures is set in a particular landscape located in an area of Cannock Chase.

Talking on the relationship between religion and art, Richard said: "I think paintings are religious."

"I think all creativity links directly to belief.

"Even if you are an atheist, you've still got a value system and a belief system and I think that is the root of creativity, what you believe."

After leaving school, the budding artist completed a year long Art and Design Foundation Course at Stafford Art College before securing a place at the highly prestigious Bath Academy of Art.

Once there, Richard was able to grow and develop as an artist while surrounded by a number of talented creatives.

In 2010, he opened R N Clarke Fine Art, where a changing collection of his original work can be seen.

Richard spends much of his time working at St Mary's Mews and it is worth checking to see if he has put out his sign inviting people to take a look around the gallery.

'Mark in a Landscape: Sixteen paintings made by R N Clarke' is available to view at St Mary's until 18 September.

The church is usually open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm.

Richard is also happy to meet exhibition visitors at other times by appointment.