Boy's Robocop wall art uncovered after 33 years

Chloe and Lisa Young uncovered the 33-year-old drawing while decorating

A family were amazed to find a boy's drawing had survived under wallpaper for almost 33 years - and even more impressed to discover what the artist produces today.

The 4ft (1.21m) sketch of the 1980s film character, Robocop, was done by Dave Hodges when he was just 13.

Lisa Young, who now lives in the house in Anlaby, East Yorkshire, uncovered the drawing while decorating.

With the help of a community Facebook group, she found the artist - now living in Australia.

The artist, Dave Hodges, now lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his partner Caroline and their two children

Ms Young, 53, said: "I was stripping the wallpaper. When I uncovered the picture, I was impressed.

“A 13-year-old little boy doing his thing, with his brother. It was nice to uncover it.”

The drawing was signed "Drawn by David Hodges aged 13, 14/7/91".

Daughter Chloe, 22, posted an appeal online and discovered a lot of people in Anlaby knew Mr Hodges and that he showed his artwork on social media.

“Someone sent the link to his Instagram account,” she said.

“I had a look and sent it straight to my mum. He is amazing! Just the stuff that he draws is incredible.”

Robocop was a hit film in the 1980s, prompting a young Dave Hodges to have a go at sketching the character

Mr Hodges, 46, now a married father-of-two, said he was surprised his childhood artwork had survived.

He even remembered doing the drawing on his brother's bedroom wall before his mother decorated.

“I was a 13-year-old boy and Robocop was an amazing film back then," he recalled. "I did think someone will find this, one day. I didn’t think it would take 33 years!"

Mr Hodges added: "I remember, after drawing the head and taking ages, my brother drew a stick man body under it. I remember being really frustrated."

The drawing was done on the wall of his brother's room

Self-taught with the help of You Tube videos, Mr Hodges now produces photorealist pictures.

He said: "I always drew a lot as a kid and I was always quite good but never took it seriously.

“Then in 2017 I drew a picture of my son. I really enjoyed it so started looking at technique – using You Tube videos."

Dave Hodges started drawing again in 2017

Mr Hodges taught himself by watching online videos

A commission from a work colleague

Mr Hodge's current artwork is still a hobby, though he has sold some work and takes occasional commissions.

He said: “Each picture can take anywhere between 30 and 40 hours. But with kids and working full time it’s hard to find the time. But I do enjoy it.”

Mr Hodges' wall art will be covered up again as Ms Young continues her house renovations.

But she intends to wallpaper that room so the Robocop wall art may be rediscovered in years to come.