Having time on his hands has inspired a man with a streak of eccentricity to stage an exhibition showcasing the best of Bath's young artists.

Jobless IT consultant Mike Richards, from Limpley Stoke, was inspired to put together the event at the Octagon Chapel at Milsom Place after spotting the work of aspiring young artists and feeling it should get wider recognition.

He then set about contacting schools in the Bath area and now more than 50 works of art are being shown until Thursday of next week.

"I went to a school art show in June and I had recently been to a couple of art shows in London, and much of the work from the school was better than the artwork I had seen in London and I thought it deserved to be seen by a wider audience," he said.

"We have got all the sixth-form schools involved, and also some from Bath Spa University at Sion Hill and the City of Bath College.

"It has been quite a lot of work but everybody has been very helpful when I approached them.

"All the schools have been very enthusiastic and very happy to submit work."

It isn't Mr Richards' first brush with art, as earlier this year he took part in the One and Other performance art project at Trafalgar Square, stepping onto the fourth plinth as his alter ego Captain Teapot, a well-mannered British gent.

The free exhibition opened on Saturday with 120 people going to the event on the first day, with several keen to buy some of the pieces on show.

Mr Richards has funded the exhibition himself and hopes to make the event an annual one, although he says he will need sponsorship.

He said he was grateful to local businesses including Leather Chairs of Bath and design company Radio, which helped make his vision a reality.

"It is really great what you can do with enough support," he added.

" I have been unemployed for a few months but it has been nice to put my time into something which has been appreciated."

Sculptor Alan Dun, who designed the Bladud pigs and soon-to-be seen Bath lions, will judge which are the best works, with the best overall hanging in the Bath Fine Art Gallery in December. The exhibition is open between 11am and 5pm, with a late-night session until 9pm tonight.