Stroud family of six artists to exhibit work together

Bryan Panks (L) said all his children going into art-related careers was "fabulous"

A family of six artists is launching a joint exhibition of their work.

Bryan and Helena Panks, from Stroud, and their children Max, Rosie, George and Fred will showcase their pieces at The Setting gallery in Three Storeys, Nailsworth from 9 April.

Mr Panks, an animator who created the Channel 4 series Max Bear with his wife, said "art was always just a big part" of their children's lives.

"It just seemed a natural thing," he said.

"Drawing and painting and video and all kinds of art things were all around as the kids were growing up, and they naturally would draw," he added.

Max Bear began as a Japanese comic strip before becoming a TV show and a new version is in the works

When their children were young, Mr Panks illustrated the Max Bear series, whilst Mrs Panks wrote the stories.

They enlisted TV cook Keith Floyd as the voice for the pilot in 1998, with actor Tom Baker coming onboard for the series, which ran from 2000-2005, plus a couple of Christmas specials.

Bryan Panks has taken up drawing again after years of creating animations on a computer

"The original drawing of Max Bear was a drawing of my son Max when he was baby because he looked like a middle aged man," said Mr Panks.

They are now working on a new version and he said: "We've rejigged Max Bear, so he's a young character, and as our son Max is now an actor, he's now the voice of the new Max Bear."

Despite this partnership, the exhibition in Nailsworth will be the first time the whole family has worked on a project together.

Picnic & Pétanque by Helena Panks, who only started exhibiting about a year ago

Mr and Mrs Panks, who met while studying art at university in Cheltenham, went on to have four children, all of whom went into art and design-related careers, including graphic design, painting and teaching art.

George Panks is inspired by landmarks in the local area, like Nailsworth Clock tower

Mr Panks explained the exhibition would combine the artists' different styles, including watercolours, "meticulous, pen and ink drawings", murals and oil paintings.

The animator only started drawing again for this exhibition and said: "I've really got back into it, so it's like a homecoming for me.

"It's so simple. And as things have got more and more AI [artificial intelligence] and more and more computer generated - and now of course, I produce animation with the computer - to be just doing some pencil and paper and some paint and doing something that can't really be AI, I think that's the way things are going."

Max Panks creates watercolours, like this image of Selsley in Stroud

He said there has been a "really nice buzz" about the exhibition, adding: "It's a really nice little coming together."

Mr Panks, who now teaches animation at his former art school, the University of Gloucestershire, said the exhibition will have a "local" feel, as he and his wife both draw and paint local landscapes.

Fred Panks creates Stroud-based illustrations

He said his boys, George, Max and Fred are also "very Stroud boys".

"They love this area. So their artwork is all about the Stroud area," he said.

Rosie Panks, an art teacher, creates works including large wall murals

Six Artists, One Family runs at The Setting gallery in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, from 9-14 April.