HE HAS seven solo art exhibitions under his belt at Marine House at Beer gallery, but on Saturday local artist Michael Morgan was there to sign copies of his latest book about his work.

HE HAS seven solo art exhibitions under his belt at Marine House at Beer gallery, but on Saturday local artist Michael Morgan was there to sign copies of his latest book about his work.

Called 80 @ 80, The Paintings of Michael Morgan, it is Michael's third book and is proving to be popular with his fans, with 48 copies pre-ordered or sold at Saturday's launch.

Mike Lambert, who co-owns the gallery with wife Rosemary, said: "The third book trounces the other two and based on the success of those, which sold out rapidly, I am sure this will go with equal speed."

Michael, pictured signing a copy for Peter Hammond, whose son John also exhibits at the gallery, produced four new paintings for the occasion which proved irresistible to some at the launch.

He said: "I am new to the business of book signings. This is the first and I am stumbling my way through it.