If you want to see Croydon re-imagined through the eyes of an artist then get down to Studio Upstairs on Park Street next week.

Wallington man Matt Bannister has depicted boroughs from all over the UK and will now bring his Croydon-inspired artwork back to where it all started.

“There’s a real mixture of architecture here and it’s filled with lots of interesting people,” Mr Bannister said on what fuelled his Croydon work.

“There’s a lot of those 17th century Victorian era buildings and there’s the chunky 60’s style pavements.”

Growing up just a couple miles from Croydon, he had plenty of inspiration for his work.

He decided that he wanted to show off Croydon for it’s colour rather than things like the “dark gloomy underpass.”

“I like to show off the life of a place,” he said.

“The way I work, you can see that I’ve drawn it as I try not to make it too slick. If things are a bit smudged or wobbly I leave it in there.

“It gives a bit of life to it think.”

You can see his distinctive style in the high-rise Croydon buildings.

“I leave a bit of wiggle in there,” Mr Bannister said.

“A bit of dirt and the odd mistake makes it feel more like how life actually is.”

The gallery night, which will feature work from Mr Bannister and another artist named Nzingha, will take place at 2-4 Park Street in Croydon on Thursday, June 29.

The event will run from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

“I’ve told a few people about it, but it will likely be a very low-key affair,” Mr Bannister said.

“But there’s always potential for extra interest.”