PHOTOGRAPHS of Blackburn by a renowned photographer are due to sell for thousands of pounds at New York's Christies.

A 9in by 6in black and white snap, is thought to be the most valuable photograph of Blackburn ever, worth £2,000 alone.

Michael Kenna, 48, said: "I received approximately £150 each for the prints and will not share in the profits realised during the last decade, but I am happy their price has gone up rather than down!"

The Widnes-born artist took the Blackburn photograph entitled 'Tow Path,' dated 1984 or 1985, in a typical study of natural landscape and urban structure contrasts.

Laura Paterson, a photograph critic from Christie's New York, said: "Kenna's works are jewels of pictures in which one could become completely lost.

"They always do well because you don't need to know about photography to find them pretty and desirable."

Five pictures by Kenna will be up for auction at New York's Christies on February 19, reaching a grand total of about £10,000.

Seven childhood years were spent by Kenna in a Catholic seminary school in UpHolland, Lancashire -- an experience he believes has had 'a profound influence' on his life.

He said: "I spent the first 18 years of my life in the Lancashire landscape, so it is very much part of me."

Following the death of a fellow contemporary artist Bill Brandt, in 1983, Michael returned to Lancashire and Yorkshire to photograph "both the landscape and urban landscapes as a homage to a man who had been a great inspiration." Laura Paterson said: "There are never any people in these dark, moody, flat pictures.

"Kenna wanted to show them waiting in the wings and for the on-looker to wait in anticipation."

It is believed that the Bank of America and the First Bank of Minneapolis who purchased the prints in the mid-80s, are holding the auction as their art collections are liquidated.

The other four prints up for auction are of Burnley, Saltaire, Filey and Hastings.

Laura added: "He has always maintained the stamp of man, wanting to show that industry could be beautiful."

The photographer has staged more than 150 one-man exhibitions over the last 28 years in America, Japan and Europe and is a celebrated advertising photographer for multi-million pound companies including BMW, British Airways and Powergen.

Can you do better? Send your photographs to Clare Cook, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, High Street, Blackburn, together with your name, address and telephone number.