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Billy Lockett stages exhibition of dad's artwork

Billy Lockett Man with long curly hair and glassesBilly Lockett
John Luce Lockett was born in 1952 and died of cancer in 2014

The singer-songwriter Billy Lockett said he was "excited" to be staging an exhibition of his father's artwork.

John Luce Lockett was born in Northampton and the exhibition at 78 Derngate in the town will mark the 10th anniversary of his death.

His artwork has been hidden away for the last decade, and his son said he hoped he would now get the recognition he deserved.

Billy Lockett will perform live at the opening of the exhibition on Tuesday.

Billy Lockett Painting of woman reclining with a wine bottle alongside flowery curtainsBilly Lockett
Many of John Luce Lockett's paintings depict life models

John was born in 1952 and worked with various mediums, like chalk and watercolour, but always considered himself an oil painter.

His work has been exhibited all around the world.

Northampton Town Council Two people wearing mayoral chains, two young men and a woman stand behind a paintingNorthampton Town Council
The Mayor and Mayoress of Northampton will open the exhibition, which includes John Luce Lockett's painting, Grieving

Billy Lockett said that his paintings have not seen the light of day since his death: "They've been in this secret attic in his old house in Abington Grove - not so secret now!

"You take a painting off the wall and there's like a door in the wall - you'd never even notice it was a door and you pull that open and it's just this enormous attic with pretty much his life's work."

Joe Ashmenall/BBC Man with short dark hair and beard and man with longer frizzy hairJoe Ashmenall/BBC
Billy Lockett (right) has worked with his official photographer Gavin Wallace (left) to curate the exhibition

After Billy's mother left home, Billy lived with his father in Northampton and remembers the house being both an artist's studio and a private music venue where his father had built his own bar.

He said: "His main thing was beautiful women not wearing many clothes, so my house was always full of artists models [and] musicians - it was a bit of a party house but it was good to grow up in."

Billy Lockett Man with long curly hair in front of a painting of a womanBilly Lockett
John Luce Lockett was Billy's father and an accomplished artist

Billy Lockett's photographer Gavin Wallace has helped Billy to curate the exhibition and will also be showing some of the pictures he has taken of Northampton residents - including Billy Lockett - for a project called Place Where We Dwell.

He said: "Over the last two years, I have photographed many locals, from charity workers, writers, poets, musicians, council members, artists, to show makers and more.

"I believe Northampton is special. It's a town steeped in history that can sometimes be overlooked."

The exhibition will be opened at 1830 GMT on 5 March and continues until 5 April.

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