An artist and teaching assistant is creating hand-drawn pictures of pubs past and present, as well as scenes around Darwen.

And Billy Almond also uses art as therapy for children with special educational needs or who may be struggling at school. 

Billy, who studied graphic design at Blackburn College, has been painting since he was young enough to pick up a brush.

Billy Almond at work Billy Almond at work (Image: Submit)

Upon graduating from university at 21, he began doing commissioned work such as drawing people’s pets and horses, as well as murals.

His biggest mural is located outside Chorley Hospital’s psychiatric ward, and is of five giant replicas of famous artists who all had psychiatric problems.

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His murals also adorn the walls of a special needs school in Lockstock Hall.

Billy’s current work involves using Copic Pens, a range of graphic markers, on cards where he draws pubs from the past and present day, with his next project drawing influential people from Darwen.

The Sunnyhurst pub in Darwen The Sunnyhurst pub in Darwen (Image: Billy Almond)

He said: “I do them because people have a lot of memories with pubs, and it is a good conversation starter.

"They are a great place where people meet and can talk and go to socialise. Everyone has a great memory of their local pub and a favourite pub, so it is a nice thing. I have got about 20 now so I am going to put them for sale at the Darwen Auction.

"I just thought of it as an interesting thing to put on a card and it kind of took off, especially with people online.”

A drawing of the £175,000 stainless steel sculpture of a Spitfire aircraft that was unveiled at The Green in Darwen in 2012A drawing of the £175,000 stainless steel sculpture of a Spitfire aircraft that was unveiled at The Green in Darwen in 2012 (Image: Submit)

The artist has his PGCE, two degrees and, as a qualified teacher, provides private art lessons to children.

He added: “I have just started an art therapy course; at the special needs school I work in. It is quite good to have interventions for children who struggle to be in the classroom, so art is a great way for everyone to express themselves.

"You don’t need to be an artist to express yourself, you can just go mad with the paint. It is also a good way to talk, once you start doing something like that it starts a conversation, art is a way of communicating emotions if you are struggling.”