But local artist Dave Bunyan has learned the perils of painting over the past nine years.

Wet dogs, nosy walkers and the British weather are just some of the obstacles he has encountered along the way.

But Dave has found his own way of beating the odds to paint the perfect landscape.

"I do a lot of painting in Tatton Park and one of the main hazards is dogs - little ones that snap and others who start to eye up your easel," says Dave.

"I find the best thing to do is to ignore them."

And when painting outdoors for up to two hours at a time he has found the mixed weather can also offer mixed fortunes.

"One time I realised that the water was freezing on the paper it was that cold," he said.

"But when it dried the pigments had moved through the painting and it made a perfect abstract."

The retired engineer started painting when he finished work nine years ago and since then has loved every minute of it.

Some of the fruits of his labour are now on show at an exhibition in Knutsford Library with many unusual views of the town and other locations.

Four popular views of Knutsford have already sold since the exhibition opened on Saturday and Dave gives his net profits to Oxfam.

"When I retired I realised I was very lucky and wanted to share my good fortune in this way," he says.

Views from around his own home on Blackhill Lane offer a personal insight to the area and Dave readily admits each landscape is imbued with his own emotion from the time of painting.

"It's a lot about how you feel on the day," he says.

"You are not trying to compete with the camera. You are trying to put the reasons why you liked the view and your feelings about what it shows."

Dave's exhibition runs until April 12.