John Lennon's artwork to be exhibitioned

AN EXHIBITION of John Lennon's artwork opens free to the public next week.

A complete collection of drawings by the late Beatle will be on display at The Gallery in Cork Street, Mayfair, London, from Wednesday 27th to Saturday 30th May.

There are 180 pieces of artwork on display, including 12 originals on loan from his wife Yoko Ono.

Fans will also be able to have the chance to purchase 14 recently released drawings that will be in sale for about £500.

Lennon saved and curated several hundred drawings at the time of his death in December 1980.

In 1986, Yoko Ono began releasing some as a limited edition using only fine art printing techniques, with the goal of re-establishing John Lennon as an important artist of the 20th century.

Lennon began drawing long before he had a guitar and attended the prestigious Liverpool Art Institute for three years (1957-60) before music became a full-time career.

But he continued to draw throughout his life, his primary medium being line drawing either in pen, pencil or Japanese sumi ink.

A complete suite of the 'Bag One' portfolio is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His original drawings have also been displayed by museums throughout the world.