John Wylie

More than 200 photographs are on display as part of an exhibition organised by a grandfather.

From left to right Eve Allen, John Horn and John Wylie, who all have work in the exhibition.

John Wylie, 72, from Erith, brought three photography groups together for the exhibition at the Austen Gallery in Hall Place, Bourne Road, Bexley, which is on until Sunday, February 19 after opening last Thursday (19).

The retired model maker first studied to be an engineer before studying for another four years to become a model maker. This included making sets and his models have appeared in the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition in Piccadilly central London, on several occasions.

It was only when he didn’t like the way people took photographs of his models that he decided to take up photography.

He said: “We were inspired by a photography exhibition we saw and we thought ‘we can do that’.

John Wylie with his work

“The subjects for the photographs in the exhibition include Regents Park Christmas lights, lilies and carnivals.

“The age range of the photographers in the exhibition begins at about 25 to 82.

“I was 19 when I won the bronze medal for model engineering at an exhibition at City Hall on the Southbank.

“In those days you learnt a trade before doing what you really wanted which for me was model making.”