HE’S never had an art lesson in his life, but Tamworth optometrist Andrew Greer has just started his first exhibition, selling 10 artworks and receiving several commissions to go on with in his rare spare time.

The busy father-of-two enlisted wife Leanne and children Mackenzie and Flynn to help out at Weswal Gallery at last Friday night’s opening.

With about 150 people crammed into the tiny gallery at the top of Brisbane St, there was barely room to properly view the artworks, yet it didn’t deter buyers on the night from snapping up eight works, with a further two sold through the week.

“I was overwhelmed with the number of people who turned out,” Mr Greer said. “It was far and away better than I expected. It really was a great night.”

Drawing and painting since he was a kid, Mr Greer has always been interested in art and it’s been a constant love throughout his life.

“In the past 12 to 18 months, the idea came about after I’d been doing some commission work,” he said. 

“Some people saw my work and that’s when it was first suggested I do an exhibition of my own.”

From September 2013 until April this year, Mr Greer came up with 50 pieces for the exhibition, ranging from works in acrylic on canvas to charcoal and ink drawings.

During that time he was working full time at his busy Eyecare Plus practice in Tamworth, painting and creating in every other waking moment (luckily, he doesn’t need much sleep).

Understandably, he’s now taking a little breather from the art world, although he has some commission works to complete as a result of the exhibition.

“I might even get someone to teach me how to do it,” Mr Greer said.

So, is he planning another exhibition in the near future? 

“I think I’d like to do something smaller, perhaps an exhibition in conjunction with another artist, so I don’t have to come up with quite so many pieces,” he said.

He has also had interest from gallery operators in Port Macquarie and on the Gold Coast.

Mr Greer’s exhibition concludes on June 30, the day a new chapter begins at Weswal Gallery with new owners.