TV presenter Rolf Harris is to hold his first UK art exhibition in December.

The 70-year-old Animal Hospital star will be showing off his works alongside those of wife Alwen and daughter Bindi, at the Halcyon Gallery in Birmingham.

The performer - known to generations for his cartoons in childrens' TV shows - is known for his catchphrase: "Can you tell what it is yet?"

"I'm putting in a few of my paintings and I'm thinking of putting in a few of my cartoons. It's my first in this country.

"I had three or four in Australia before I came to England in my late teens. I actually raised the money to come here by having exhibitions of my paintings," he said.

'Very Australian'

Rolf met his wife when they were both students at the City and Guilds Arts School in Kennington, south London, but says they didn't hit it off at first.

Rolf Harris
Rolf was a huge hit at the Glastonbury festival
"I was very noisy and stupid and very Australian, while she was very reserved and English.

"But a few years later we were both exhibiting at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and things had changed slightly. I'd matured and she was a bit less shy and we got on well," he said.

Alwen Harris specialised in lifesize sculptures of animals but in the last few years has moved into jewellery design, while daughter Bindi is an established artist who has widely exhibited her paintings and etchings.

Rolf, who has been awarded both the MBE and OBE, recently became an honorary member of the Royal Society of British Artists.

The exhibition at the Halcyon, which is in the Birmingham International Convention Centre, runs from 9 to 24 December.

Rolf releases a single, dance track Fine Day, on Monday.


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