CAN you guess who painted this picture, Constable, Turner, Monet? - Well actually it was Andrews.But, you'd be forgiven for getting a bit confused because Ipswich granddad Arthur Andrews loves producing copies of famous paintings.

CAN you guess who painted this picture, Constable, Turner, Monet? - Well actually it was Andrews.

But, you'd be forgiven for getting a bit confused because Ipswich granddad Arthur Andrews loves producing copies of famous paintings.

And he is only just taking a break from the easel and canvas after painting three full-sized versions of Thomas Gainsborough's finest works.

Although he was never taught art Mr Andrews, whose relatives have always worked as craftsmen, is proud that many people think his work is the real deal.

The granddad-of-five said: “I managed to find out that the way the great artists of the 18th and 19th centuries worked was by relying on the under painting to show through to bring out the finished product.

“It gives a depth to the paintings which I love and I think that's why I manage to get mine looking so similar.

“I also have old power, some more than 100-years-old, to use and it is similar to what they would have used.

“Sometimes I think that if they didn't have my signature on you'd think they'd been stolen from a gallery.”

But the 70-year-old who said he has “linseed oil running through my blood” said he has never sold a painting, instead he simply makes them for family and friends.

And Mr Andrews, who lives on Parade Road, off Belvedere Road, said he felt that imitation was the most sincere form of flattery, which was why he had created the imitation-masterpieces.

He said: “They took me quite a long time to complete - I would estimate about 95 hours each, although it's difficult to say because sometimes you have to leave them for three or four days at a time.

“But I really enjoy it, because it's my hobby.

“I quite like Gainsborough's work and I prefer him to Constable because his paintings are more rugged.”

Weblink: www.gainsborough.org

Thomas Gainsborough

Gainsborough was born in 1727 in Sudbury

In 1780 he painted the portraits of King George III and his queen.

Although he was an admired portrait painter Gainsborough said: "I'm sick of portraits, and wish very much to take my viol-da-gam and walk off to some sweet village, where I can paint landscapes and enjoy the fag end of life in quietness and ease."

And John Constable said of his paintings: "On looking at them, we find tears in our eyes and know not what brings them."

Source: Wikipedia