A MORETON artist's work, including a landscape featuring Magdalen Laver Church, is to be displayed at the prestigious Mall gallery in London.

Jerry Alexander, of Pedlars End, had three paintings chosen by the Royal Society of British Artists, which are on display at its annual exhibition ending on Sunday.

Mr Alexander's work is primarily buildings in landscape, boatscape and semi-abstracts, drawing from either local beauty spots and East Anglian landscapes or views over the Mediterranean.

He said: "There are some terrific English landscapes, which are almost as intense as the Med but in a different, more moody way. I've always painted and from the age of three, I found I could draw in perspective.

"Aged four or five, I drew an aerial view of our house and roads in Chingford, all in perspective."

During his formative years, a hip problem kept him from school and Mr Alexander immersed himself in art, a passion and talent that remained a central focus throughout his life. At 12 he befriended a neighbour who painted and restored furniture, and this helped confirm his love of art and decide upon a career in architecture.

At Forest School, Snaresbrook, Mr Alexander took A-level art with Peter Green-away, an avant garde filmmaker and John Tancock, the future director of modern art at New York Sotheby's.

"I went into architecture for the design aspect. I see buildings as huge pieces of sculpture. In my paintings, I'm not so excited about landscapes without buildings or buildings without the context of surroundings, it's the relationship between the two that interests me.

"I was most prolific in the 1970s and 80s but in the last 20 years, my painting has taken a back seat to architecture."

Now those parallel careers have switched round, with architecture taking the back seat and Mr Alexander focusing his attention on painting.

Like many artists, Mr Alexander first displayed his work at small local exhibitions, in Matching, Theydon Bois, Chigwell and Stansted, and has sold work for over 30 years.

"It's not easy for struggling artists, especially when top galleries have their own artists whom they're happy with and who sell well. Also many galleries take a 50-70 per cent commission on your work, which I think debases it; you have to charge a small fortune to make any sort of living."

The Mall would be a highlight of many artists' careers but Mr Alexander has his sights set even higher: "Next year I'm hoping for the Royal Academy. I really respect that anybody can submit to the Royal Academy and over the years it's developed into the people's exhibition."

Now he is hoping to travel more with his new wife, Charmaine, a talented photographer and paint from month-long stays across southern Europe or even northern India.

Travel seems to be in the family's blood, with Mr Alexander's son Giles studying fine art in Sydney and Charmaine's daughter Nicky working in Paris.

Mr Alexander's other daughters Helen and Frances live near Saffron Walden and Charmaine's daughter Shelley lives in Bambury.

The Mall gallery is open 10am-5pm, Monday to Sunday, entry is £2.50. For more details, ring 020 7930 6844.